Playgroup - Wheaton,IL

I've actually been made to feel guilty by other moms before because I never put my kids in a pre-school. I'm a SAHM mom! Why on earth should I send them away? But I was very much like you....surprised to learn one day that it's completely the norm. Even my pediatrician started asking at every visit if they were in pre-school (which, in her mind, meant they were getting proper "socialization"). All I could do was stutter and stammer about playdates and the whole gaggle of cousins their age that live right down the street.

I have a feeling that, in spite of what they say, most people put their kids in pre-school because they want a break.

that makes me so sad. next thing you know our babies will be whisked away right out of the womb.
khairete
S.

Are they going to full day preschools or 1/2 day, few times a week types of preschool? I put my children in one of those near our home (there are many) so they could have some extra playtime with other kids (we were also very active in playgroups) while possibly learning some extra things AND, most importantly, it gave ME a break! Most of us need some time away from our kids (and our kids need some time away from us), and I relished those few hours each week where I got to go grocery shopping alone or with only one baby or just got to clean house with no interruptions! Many people also add a new sibling when the other is around 2 or 2.5, and it's awfully nice to have 4 hours two or three times per week to spend alone with that new baby!

I put my son in a preschool when he was 2 as well.. He just went Tuesdays and Thursdays.. It was great for his socialization skills. We still did our mommy groups also though... Being that he only went part-time to preschool, we did the mommy groups on the other days.. I think both benefited him a lot... Plus, it gave me a break to get more things done..
Where I live (S. Fl) I think it's very normal for the kids to start going to preschool at that age. When I was young though, I never went until 5~