Hi! I need ideas brainstorming for ideas on how to make having my 3 year old attend preschool. The ones in our area require you to drop off and pick up your child from class. I'm unable to drive and my husband works 14 hour days. We don't know of anyone near us who could drive her and the only preschool that offers transportation has income limits that we 'just miss', otherwise we'd have her attend Headstart. I've thought of checking out the local college for students who are in going to school to early childhood courses, but since she is an only child, I wanted her to also go to pre-school for the social development skills aside from educational structure. Any ideas on pre-school options would be helpful for those of who have pre-school aged kids and how to make this work would be great

Have you tried calling the school and discussing your situation with them? Maybe something can be worked out.

Hey that is so weird, where do you live? I have a three yr old too, also trying to get her in prek for the same reasons, social skills, you don't drive? is it for the same reason about the panic attacks you say have happened?

I like the idea of calling the school to see if there are any parents of another child who lives near you?

That whole preschool thing is difficult for anyone but non working healthy parents. When my kids were in day care, I couldn't take them to preschool because I worked and couldn't give them a ride.

Eventually my kids ended up in a day care "center" that was like a preschool.

I really believe it helps kids to get the pre school/day care center experience. My sons are still friends with kids they met as toddlers and they are 15 and 18. If you can't work out the pre school perhaps there is a center that your child could go to all day so Dad might be able to drop off in the AM on his way to work and pick up on his lunch hour or something?

I'm with strange wings.

There may even be a carpooling system that some of mothers have set up. The school may know of different alternatives like these.

You didn't mention if the preschool you were looking into is private or part of the public school system. If it is private try calling your public school. With all the No child left behind rules many public schools offer a preschool program. I know we now service all 4yr olds and some 3's and transportation is provided. Just a thought.

Wendy~

Thanks for all the ideas. I'll have to check into talking to the school specifically about out situation and see what they have for options.
Shirley - I don't drive because I'm too weak to drive and get extremely lighheaded, dizzy and poor vision. If it was only due to the few times I've experience panic attack like symptoms, I'd still be driving, but since holding my arms up to hold the wheel takes to much energy, it just doesn't work