We have been pondering our decision for social preschool for a while and if we made a good choice. Every time we stepped foot into the school our DD would turn into a simplified version of herself. She would speak in her usual sentences while in the car, but the minute she went into the classroom she would shorten her responses and speak in 3 word sentences. At first I took it as an adjustment and her being shy but she was starting to bring it home and reverting back to things she normally would never do. She was able to draw circles and basic letters before she was a year old but being in the school she started to scribble like typical toddlers do and when I pushed for her to control her writing, I was informed that she couldn't and it was too hard. We also noticed the teachers babied her because she was the youngest in the class and she took on the role. Though I had no complaints about the school in general we concluded that it just wasn't a good fit. But where do we put her? She went to a summer camp for Spanish Immersion and we knew she excelled in the camp. They had been very impressed with her and informed us that she comprehended everything by the third day. Though DD had never complained about the school she was attending she had been asking to go back to the Spanish Immersion program for about a month now. I called them hoping by some miracle they would have a spot. Talk about the stars aligning ... they had one spot open but had people on the waiting list. Once I explained who my daughter was they remembered her and bent over backwards to get her in. We are so excited!!! She will be starting her new school this week and I am crossing my fingers that it works out.

We are super excited about their curriculum. They are about 2 years ahead of public school's curriculum. The 3 yr olds are doing what kindergarten kids do in public school.

Yay! This sounds like a great solution. Interesting how your dd felt comfortable being herself at the immersion school but not at the social school!

Wow! That's wonderful! So glad things worked out that way.

I have to say, that it takes my breath away to hear you describe the level of 'emotional intelligence' that your daughter exhibited while trying to fit in to her preschool. That's an amazing skill for such a young person to have, and it will make your job of parenting that much more difficult. Keep your eyes open with this one, ok?

I can well imagine that as an adult, her keen observation skills and self control will allow her to do amazing things.

Smiles,
Grinity

I'm glad to hear things worked out for you! It sounds like a wonderful program. It's sad how kids will adjust to fit in.

Grinity,

Thanks for the refresher on emotional intelligence. I guess I see IQ so much in topics that I have been stuck in a box. :P

I just assumed what we see from her with her empathy is normal HG+. Am I wrong on that assumption?

For example: From around 2 when she was in trouble for doing something she doesn't get upset in the normal way that most kids do but she is concerned about my feelings. "Are you happy mommy?" She says with tears in her eyes. She will focus on my emotions until I comfort her about my feelings. She then wants to comfort me. It breaks my heart. Yes, she did act out and yes she knew what she did was wrong and she can not get away with it, but when she focuses her emotions on me, it just takes my breath away.

And from a very early age she has 'taken' care of her stuffed animals. They get hurt and she has to hold them and care for them and this will go on for ever. I don't think this is really unusual for kids to do but it just seems like she takes it to a whole new level.

And Lorel,

I think it was because she was challenged the minute she walked in the door at the Spanish school, since everything was in Spanish. To be able to communicate she had to first understand.

Normal - normal for her! But by no means universal. Just like early reading - not universal.
Smiles,
Grinity