Have your kids ever been in Head Start?

United States
January 5, 2011 10:32am CST
We're in a tough spot with my Son. He is a fall baby and he will not be able to go to school in September as he misses cut off for 4k by a month. We can't afford pre-school and all he would continue to receiave would be speech services from the school district. Right now he goes for an hour a week & has an IEP. She suggested I look into Head Start for him. I am unsure if we will qualify for it as we are way over the income limits but I don't have enough funds to pay for him to go out of pocket either. His teacher said they do take kids that are over income limits if they do have an IEP & letter of referral as they are alotted space. So has anyone used this program? What did you think of it? Your childs growth? My SIL said they do get "into your business too much" but I don't know if that means your finances or ??? Any imput would be appreciated. If he isn't accepted into this program I will look into getting help some how into paying for a part time pre-school program for him or assistance from a relative. I just hate that he's soooo smart but because we can't afford out of pocket pre-school and his birth date he will not be afforded any opportunities til next year.
2 people like this
12 responses
• United States
5 Jan 11
I had 4 grandkids in head start, I know their parents enjoyed it very much. The kids loved it and it really helped them in school. I don't know about 'getting into your business'. Here, Michigan, they do home visits, I think 2x's a year and also will help you if there are other areas that you qualify for assistants. Our schools now have a preschool program that is free from the state and they provide transportation one way. I have had 2 grandchildren in it. Best of luck to you, I think anything that you can get your child into will help him all the way through school. If not, you can do things at home, mostly I think children need their parents to pay attention to them and do things with them. From your other post I have read I think you are a wonderful mother and very involved with your children so even if you don't get him extra help, he will have what he will always need the most, his mother.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 11
My granddaughter is in the preschool program at our school, last year she was in a preschool program that they had to pay for. In both of these programs her mother went in once or twice a month and helped with the class. It helped so much as little one was complete "mommy Glue". Now she rides the bus to school with her older sisters and she is getting a little independant. So the preschooling was a good avenue for her, and having mommy help in the class really helped with the transition over. Best of luck to you.
• United States
8 Jan 11
Yeah he's glued to me. So I guarantee he'll be the most difficult to let go to school. And being my youngest.... he's such a sweetie!
6 Jan 11
Thats what the lady that evalautated my daughter stating that shes behind on her speach, shes about to be 3 years old and isnt talkig properly shes says a few sentences here and there, and can understand her verywell. but the rest is jiber jabber. My kid hasnt been to head start.
• United States
8 Jan 11
Head Start is also supposed to have speech therapists there as well. So they'd get the classroom & social experiences on top of it.
@mrdos910 (455)
• United States
5 Jan 11
Both of our younger kids were in Head Start and Early Intervention and they both have benefited greatly from the program. They were both foster kids in our home and the county paid for it, even if they didn't we would have sent them regardless, as they are very much advanced in math and reading.
• United States
5 Jan 11
All of my kids have been in early intervention for speech delays to one degree or another. Though if we can't get into head start or afford any other place I feel he would need something outside of his speech therapy wich totals a mere hour a week. They require so many things by the time they hit 5k it's hard to let it go.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
5 Jan 11
its to bad that they are charging for that now. back when my kids were 4yrs etc. in the late 60's they did not charge as far as i know. maybe they did but i wasnt charged because we were on welfare then having had my hubby left. the church used to have it there. maybe your church can help?
• United States
5 Jan 11
Yes they do charge for pre-school. As it's considered "optional" but many of the skills learned in pre-school are EXPECTED when they enter grade school. We don't belong to a church and the one that I am aware of having a good reputation in pre-school programming will cost us $1200 a year for 3 half days a week. I don't have that to spare. So really at this moment Head Start is my best option, but I don't know if it would be free if they did let us in.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
8 Jan 11
In my state, children that have an IEP are automatically eligible to start head start when they age out of First Steps (which is the state speech and occupational therapy for preschoolers). Neither of my children were treated through First Steps, but I have several friends that did have children that were in it and did go on to let their children do head start through the school district. They seem to be really happy with it, and none of them fall within the typical income limits.
• United States
5 Jan 11
I think you should send your son to headstart if at all possible. I had a November baby where I could have started him at school or waited a year. I of course started him, he wasn't mentally mature enough for it and it haunted him up through the second grade because he was always behind the rest of the class. As far as applying for the program your speaking about, I don't know. It sounds like they do check into your finances, so be it, its for your sons welfare and its not like you don't show your financials to everyone else even the car salesmen and IRS. Good luck.
• United States
5 Jan 11
Hello Jean, I agree that the kids can start school to early. I was a November baby too and my mother started me when I was 4. She didn't want to but the teacher told her I was ready. WEll, I always wished she had not, I was never very good in school, the youngest in my class (in my senior picture I am 16!) But I always felt like I was behind, especially in math! I do think schools are more aware of things now then when I was in school. I have now started classes (me at 57!) and I am so far doing very well in them, but I haven't got to the math yet!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jan 11
years ago we had our son in head start and I agree with your son they do come check you out like you are a brainless twit and do not know how to feed your child correctly. this bit.chy school nurse came around wanting to know if I realized my son was a little thin and had to know all that I fed himn. when she saw it was more than adequate she apologized and left. That did leave a sour taste in my mouth as I was always into good nutrition for my family.We got off head start later with a g rant to send him to a private school for gifted kids as he was bored silly in public school.He was finally tested and found gifted which explained his problems. He did not have any other problems. once he was being challenged with work that was advanced he did really well.He is now 51 and a most intelligent.
• Canada
5 Jan 11
kid is a liability if you don't have money
@katsmeow1213 (28719)
• United States
5 Jan 11
My twins went to head start. We liked it. The only major issues I had was they forced the kids to nap, and my kids didn't handle naps well, it kept them up all night. As far as getting in your business... they are required to report if they suspect any child abuse, and I think some of the parents had major issues with that. Not really child abuse, but the Head Start staff "investigating" for child abuse. I was talking to one lady who ended up pulling her son out because the dad was a little verbally abusive (called the kid dumb, and the time out chair was the stupid chair or something like that). She was so flustered by the investigation she pulled her son out. I personally did not have issues with them getting into my business, except for the time I hit my daughter in the face with a spatula.. LOL. Obviously it was a total accident, hubby and I were goofing around and were playing tug of war with the spatula, he let go and my hand flew backwards from the momentum and she was standing right behind me. She got a nasty little cut on her face and instead of calling me to ask what happened, they just showed up at the house... but after I told them it was an accident and explained it all to them I never heard about it again.
@halynn (1809)
• United States
5 Jan 11
Yes, my son was in head start. He did really well in there. I was really happy with the way the program helped him. He enjoyed it very much. He had the same head start teacher that his dad and aunt both had. He loved her so much. She was really sweet little elderly woman. My son didnt want to leave there to go to kindergarten lol. As far as qualifying for head start. They do go by your income, but i believe that most states are required to reserve (if i remember right) 20% of their student body to above the income guidelines. Best wishes.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
5 Jan 11
My children were never in head start. it was not a program offered to me. My sister's two children have both been in the headstart program. i think they both have greatly benefited from the experience.
• United States
5 Jan 11
If I understand your discussion fully the only area they will be requiring information is simply what you list on the application. So if you say both you and your husband work they will ask for amounts and show proof of check stubs and or income tax records. They do go by pay scales and number of dependents within the family. Having helped the Archdiocese here in IL the only time they will require proof is when you fall within $100 under and over the qualifying amounts. As for them getting into your business this applies to financial qualifications. They have no reason to poke and speculate about your home life unless there is reason, so I would not worry about this at all. I would go ahead and apply as if you do not qualify the worse that can happen is perhaps them saying you would have to pay out of pocket then you can decide from there as to whether it is affordable or not. Good luck and hope he does get in the program as this way he will get the daily interactions with the other kids as well begin learning the school and learning activities.