This week Alexander is starting to transition to the Pre-K class.
He's going to be spending time in the Pre-K class a few times this week and then a bit more next week to help him get used to the new class. Alexander is moving over with Sean while Aidan, Connor, Grace & Veronica will transition in September.
He officially starts in the Pre-K class on July 1st. My little guy is growing up fast!
Earlier this week we got the memo that Alexander will be moving to Preschool class in January.
PRESCHOOL?? When did that happen?
Hopefully it will be yet another easy transition as the previous transitions have gone. We already know his teachers so that does make it easier. I meant to ask if Aidan was going to transition with him has they moved into Older Toddlers together. But I kept forgetting...I'll just have to ask on Monday.
My only concern is regarding potty training as Alexander is not potty-trained and I thought they had to be before transitioning into Preschool class. That will be my other follow-up question as well...
Regardless of the questions, I'm sure everything will go just fine as they have in the past. Alexander seems to adjust easily in these situations.
In the upcoming weeks, Alexander will be transitioning over to the Older Toddlers room. He'll be transitioning with 5 of his friends so it will be fun too. Aidan, Connor, Grace, Veronica & Gemma are going with Alexander so it will still feel like his daily class. His new teachers will be Miss Lori & Miss Alexa - and since we see them every day it will be a piece of cake. So far, Mommy has found both teachers to be very nice.
In Older Toddlers, the kids have more responsibilities in that they have to do more helping with cleaning up toys, getting lunches out & helping friends with getting plates, cups & napkins. They have circle time focusing on colors, shapes, letters & numbers.
In Older Toddlers, there is Colors of the Week & PJ day where kids are encouraged to wear PJs to school (although I've yet to notice any other kids wearing PJs to school). It should be a fun & easy transition. His first full day of Older Toddlers is September 1st.
So we did it. No more bottles. Alexander had his last bottle last night before bed.
I decided that July 1st was the cut off point to transition from bottles. He never has been one to cling to his bottle or scream if he can't have it, so I figured this won't be that much of an issue. He transitioned very well from his day bottles to sippy cups, so we'll see how this goes.
Dad gave him his morning milk in a sippy cup rather than a bottle and he did okay with it. He was a bit fussy but that could also be his two top teeth coming in. When I asked him to sit down and drink his milk, he did so without a huge production.
Tonight will be the final moment to see just how well he does when I don't give him a bottle before bed. Last night I did explain that big boys don't use bottles anymore but they drink from cups. And when I asked him if he was ready to put away the bottle, he did nod his head yes. If he actually understood me, we'll just wait and see. But we have a bedtime schedule that we'll just tweak just a bit so he should be okay. It might be interesting at first, but he'll adapt quick.
Alexander has completed his first week in his new room, the Transition Room. Overall, he did okay but not great. And I think Mommy gets a lower grade than Alexander.
Dropping him off each morning was difficult. It was the first time he really cried. And when I say cried...I mean grab onto my leg, sobbing cry. There were a few other times in his other room where he'd cry for a bit but he was easily settled. This time, not so much. Ms. Mary Jo tried to read to him, walk him around, show him toys and nothing worked. He would just put his arms in my direction with his face covered in tears. And that's another thing - why don't they wipe his face??? Of course, the fridge is on the opposite side of the room where the sign in sheets are so it's not easy to make a quick getaway.
Besides the morning drop-offs, he also didn't eat all that well. He never finished his hot dogs or waffles. There was also one day where he came home with a lot more milk in his container than I would have liked.
They (his teachers) said he did well despite the rough start each morning. He was able to play with the kids, they went outside a few times, he enjoyed sitting at the table eating with the kids. He also napped on the mat on the floor without problems. Ms. Rose wrote in his school journal that once he got settled he was great and had a fun time with his kids. I'll be happy when Aidan moves up next month so he has someone his age & level to play with. Plus, it'll be a parent I'm friendly with.
From Mom's perspective - I'm hoping to get adjusted fast. I figured out the lunch bag/milk situation after 2 days. I bought him a smaller lunch bag and one bigger container & an empty cup for his milk rather than filling up 3 separate cups (which take up more room in the fridge). The daily sheet is different than the ones we've filled out before. This one I barely fill out which makes it hard for me to let them know what to feed him when. And then I read it at night and they say they gave him goldfish, strawberries, graham crackers, cheez-its. Things I know I didn't pack. Who knows where these come from.
The other thing I have to get used to is one nap a day. Alexander wakes up a lot earlier than the other kids so I really think he needs that morning nap; his mood is so much better when he has 2 naps. Plus, we're finding the 1 nap in the middle of the day to be a challenge for us during the weekends - how do we handle this? What if we have plans, will he get his nap? I have a feeling we'll really miss that morning nap.
Let's hope next week is a lot easier/better for both of us!
We got word on Friday that Alexander will be moving up to the Transition room in June. I feel like he just got to the Older Infant room, I also feel as if he could still use some time in the Older Infant room before going in with the bigger kids. Kids in the Transition room are walking 100% on their own. They also take naps on mats. Speaking of, I also learned that kids in the Transition room only take one nap a day. EEEKK! I'm not ready for him to loose his 2nd nap providing he'll still take it. However, there is one girl in there (who's only a few months older than Alexander) who will occasionally take a 2nd nap in the afternoon.
It's good that he's moving that means he's developing well but it seems just when we really start to bond with his teachers and get a good pattern/schedule going, it's time to move. But that is life! His friend Aidan will move over the following month so that will be good for both of them that they will pretty much be in the same class together. Another good thing about moving is that tuition will be a bit cheaper, not much but cheaper is better. I just hope he's a full-fledge walker so he's not stumbling and the only one not walking.
.JPG)
.JPG)
