Head Start ??

mckayleesmom wrote: I was in a restauraunt in my home town waiting for some takeout and I was reading the things on their bulleton board. Well there was a brochure for the Head Start Program. It said you can bring in babies from infant to 5 I think. Anyways, it also said it was free. What exactly is head start? Isn't it like preschool? I have somewhat heard of it before...but I never thought it was free. Maybe that brochure was made wrong. I would like to find something for Mckaylee to go to a couple hours a day to play with other kids. Does anyone have any information.

amynicole21 replied: Hmmmm... not sure I thought it had something to do with a government assistance program, but I might be totally wrong.

shannon75 replied: Im not exactly sure how it all works. Yes, its sort of like a preschool/day care setting. It hought it was based on your income tho if you had to pay or not.

mckayleesmom replied: If it is,,then we probably wouldn't qualify...we didn't even qualify for wic.

KatieLeigh79 replied: The head start program J.R. and I are in is run by the government and they offer classes that you and your baby can attend, play groups and someone for the first year calls every few months to see if you have any questions on development and sends you any information on different baby topics that you request... In our area it is offered as a first time parent thing for people who have little to no advice from parents or had a longer seperation in the beginning from the little one, or a rough start - not sure if it is the same type of a program or not, they also offer a head start program here for infant to 5 its classes and that is also free but the parent attends as well to help the child learn how to interact so you wouldn't really get "time away" to get things done like a program that will take your little one for a while you would also need to attend...

I may be way off on what they are offering though - give them a call, im sure they could tell you better!

mckayleesmom replied: Although it would be lovely to get some time alone if I could,,,overall I want her to have little kids to play with. We don't have any family around and I don't want her to shy away from people. So far she loves to be the center of attention, but being a military brat I want her to be as outgoing as she can. I won't force her, but I don't want to deny her the opportunity either. Plus she LOVES other kids,,but we just don't know any. The only other kids she sees are kids in the grocery store or something.

jem0622 replied: It's my understanding that Head Start is available to all but they have categories and if you make too much and your children are free of disabilities then you fall into the 'other' category. So if the spots fill then they do a lottery for the 'other' category and only a few get in. We signed Nathan (4) up for a pre-k program at our local elementary school but we are in the 'other' category. Unfortunately we won't know if he got in until July.

I think peer to peer interaction is great once they are walking and starting to talk. Maybe consider a MOMS Club or MOPS Club in your area? It would be like a playgroup for her. Something to think about.

Julie

jcc64 replied: In a nutshell, I believe Head Start is a gov't assistance program geared primarily to disadvantaged families or those with disabilites. I don't think it's the sort of thing you are looking for. I would check out a local YMCA or post a flyer for a mom's group or something.

DansMom replied: I was a headstart kid, and was also a foodstamp/welfare kid, so I'm guessing it is for lower income families. The only thing I can remember is standing in separate lines for girls and boys to enter and leave the classroom lol! I bet it differs a lot from state to state (I grew up in rural Maine, where pretty much everyone is lower income, so most of my friends and cousins attended).

mckayleesmom replied: The bad thing is..we live in a small town...so I don't think any moms groups exist. I have looked and looked and can't find anything. There is another brochure for ALL WE CAN BE Child Developement Center....but is that Slang for daycare?? If I go back to work then it would be great,,,but im looking for something for her to go to for an hour or 2 a day..even if Im there...just so she can interact with other kids.

Kaitlin'smom replied: you can do a google search about it here is one I found...

Head Start

maestra replied:
That's exactly what it is. It is intended to "bridge the gap" for lower income children so that they will be ready to enter school in Kindergarden. It does help, if you qualify, but with No Child Left Behind they are really pushing it to be way too academic. Have you checked the public libraries? They usually have a kids story hour, and you can meet groups of parents there. Our library has a story hour with songs, etc especially devoted to 0-24 months.