I seem to be finding more of a childcare, playtime atmosphere instead of an academic one.... Please help with any suggestions.
216839
It's not directly in Riverside but there is one in San Bernardino,ca.It's called KIDZ ROCK.It's new.It's located on waterman.I know the people who run it...they are awesome.\nIt is on the same site as a church.As far as I know,they're a fully accredited pre-school.Check it out for yourself.
324124
I do not know of a specific website, but I am a Preschool teacher and I can give you some things to look for when you visit each centre:\n* Look at the building. Is it clean and safe? Are there heaps of resources/toys for the children to play with?\n* What is the play area outside like? Is there room for the kids to run? Is the equipment safe and well maintained?\n* Are the staff friendly and happy?\n* Do the kids currently at the centre appear happy? Are they playing well or running around causing havoc?\n* Do the teachers plan for each child individually? Do they write down observations of what the child is doing and plan activities based on the children's interests and needs?\n* Have a look at the major policies, including child protection, behaviour management, and food preparation/diets (if food provided by centre).\n* What is your gut feeling telling you? If you are not confident, it will be harder for you to trust them with your child!!\n\nGood luck
331061
Your best bet would be to leave home and start filling out applications - try grocery stores, bookstores, jobs on your campus, etc.  You could put up fliers to babysit or tutor kids.  I'm sorry to tell you that a desperate plea over the internet will probably not give you much success, especially when a majority of us don't even live in Australia.  I wish it were that easy, but its not!
257038
you can go to the 1100 building on drew st. for financial assistance you can get daycare through them for cheap it will be based on your income... they might even cover the "r" club that is run through the school...
40237
Look at preschools in your area. Or after care places.
566112
Rules are different everywhere so you really need to ask those questions of someone in your area.  Possibly visit a preschool and ask the teachers there.  They should be able to point you in the right direction.
643277
Free activities:  take them to the library, they have all sorts of free programs for kids.  They can also borrow books, fairly new released dvds, and cds.  Park, school playground.  Water balloon toss.  Pool, or sprinkler would be cool.  Make their own snack, like trail mix.  Pizza bagels.  Usually AMC or Regal Cinemas offer free movie for kids and parents at 10 am once a week.  Check out their website for more info.  Bike riding, play follow the leader on bikes.  Volunteer you and the child's time at local retirement homes, etc. to set a good example.  Free local museums, zoo.  Crafts:  make a summer scrapbook together, Make pinuatas. You'll need newpaper, balloon for shape, and plaster of paris, paints.  Blow balloon up. Make a paste of plaster of paris, tear newspaper into strips, and adhere, let dry overnight. Leave a opening to fill with candy, and to pop balloon.  When dry, paint. When dry, decorate and add candy!  Grab a branch and have fun! Make placemats out of construction paper, and laminate.  You can cut pics out of magazines, or add beads/sequins, pics of family and friends.  Make colored sand.  Use salt or granulated sugar, baby food jar/ or other small jar.  Colored chalk.  On newspaper or paper bag, dump salt/sugar on table take a colored chalk stick and glide over sugar until desired colored is achieved. Place in jar, do the next color.  Until jar is full.  Cute.  Also, check out stores like Home Depot, Lowes, or A.C. Moore(craft store) they offer free make it and take it classes for kids.  Barnes and Nobles also should have free programs available also.  Have fun! I hope this helped you.
203439
Go to the nearest primary school and talk to the parents of some Kindergartners they may be able to tell you of some good preschools.  \n\nCall all of the preschools in your area and go to visit them and you will get a "vibe" while you are there as to what kind of a place it is. Good Luck : )
280737
I'm going to try to keep all my ideas low cost and easy...if you're a stay at home mom these might work better than if you're not.  Though you might be able to get your childcare provider to do these things as well.\n\n1. Check out your local library!  They often have great things going on for the summer.  My son now 12 is an avid reader particaly becasue he got interested in the summer reading programs at the libray.  They usually have a program where kids read books and get starts or stickers or something like that to put in a book.  Sometimes there are draws and prizes and parties involved.  I find these really help boys by getting the competitive juices going...who can read the most books by the end of the summer.  Don't worry if he gravitates to books that are too young for him...any reading he does is good, builds word recognition and speed and comprehension.  You may luck out and find a series he likes...look for "The Magic Tree House" books, they might be about his level.  Then they want to read them all as fast as they can.\n\n2.Grocery Shopping...you have to do it anyway so make it special.  Have him help you make the list...maybe he can even write it out!  When you're shopping let him help you find things. Pick 2 "special treats" from the bakery to have when you get home and the groceries are put away.  Make a big deal out of it...set the table, light a candle.  \nNow a word of warning.  Grocery shopping with kids can be rough as they want every unhealthy expensive thing they see.  But by allowing him to choose one special thing you make that a bit easier.  And all kids need to learn that they can't have everything.  Once they get use to it the tantrums over the jumbo box of oreos will stop.  UNLESS you give into them...then it gets worse since they see it works.\n\n3. Plan a picnic.  You can combine this with the grocery shopping too.  You can take a picnic to a park...or maybe meet up with Dad at work.  \n\n4. 2 words...water balloons...don't forget to participate fully yourself. Kids don't see mom having fun as often as they sould...mine included.\n\n5. This may cost a bit but maybe it will fit into the budget...visit some of your local tourist attactions...a historical home, a zoo, an art gallery.\n\n6. Plant a garden...you may already do that but maybe you can give him a little corner for himself or dig up a separate spot for him.  \n\n7. Are you religious? Christian? look for a "Vacation Bible School" in your area.\n\n8. Check out the website below.  They update it monthy with cool stuff to do with your pre-school/Elemantary and teenage kids.  In the upper right hand side of the page find the paper and pencil to subscribe to get updates mailed to you monthy!\n\nI'll edit this as I think of more.
88428
I'd try PBS or A&E. A&E will often have "In the Classroom" programs. Hope that helped.
115559
I homeschool my two boys and the lady I sit for pays me extra to hs her dd for preschool.  I HIGHLY recommend you hs if you have the will and the ability.  Two big things to remember with hsing at ANY level is: one day at a time...you're not talking about geometry and calculus yet.  Second...it's not forever unless you want it to be.  She can re-enter public school when she is ready.  You can email me, I started hsing my now 4th grader when he was in K.  He has TONS of confidence, he gets ONE  ON ONE education, I teach him the way he learns best, rather than plunking him down in a group of 30 kids and droning on at a chalk board...I use manipulatives, pc programs, games, baking to learn fractions, printouts from sites like enchantedlearning.com etc etc.  When he needs a break, he gets one.  We hs year round, so he doesn't forget half over the summer, but our hs days are short.  He learns things he WANTS to learn about.  When he showed an interest in pirates, we got books from the library, coloring pages from the internet, we built a ship, made our own course on a map, created a flag, etc etc.  HSing is the BEST at your dd's age, because you can take ALL the pressure off of her, and teach to what she needs, one thing at a time if you like.  If she is currently crying over math, take a break from the usual math stuff, and play dice games instead!  Just because it's fun, doesn't mean you can't use it for school.  Think outside the box, teach her fast math skills by having her play games!  Teach her spelling by only drilling in the car, and make it fun!  See what I mean?  And don't let the folks that know NOTHING about hs except for the freaks they find on tv worry you about socialization.  There are hs groups in your area to help.  There are groups online.  There are church groups and public sports and music lessons and play groups for socialization.
111317
Check out:\nhttp://www.kidslovelondon.com/kll/index.html\n\nHas some great ideas on it.\n\nWhat about Battersea Park Zoo? Recently been refurbished and has a good selection of animals in there. Also you have the park to walk around which has lots of wildlife on the lakes and a deer enclosure.\n\nThere are city farms at Vauxhall, Surrey Quays, and one in Merton which also has a riding school (bit young I know but if she likes horses she can at least go see them)\nhttp://www.deencityfarm.co.uk/\n\nCheck your local borough council website as they often organise many events such as painting activities, library storytime sessions and activity "playgyms" for toddlers.\n\nFailing all that get her to sleep and then go down the pub!
565319
I have a 1year old and it took me forever to find the right person.  Now you have an advantage Your child is old enough to tell you what their doing in a day. Ask! You'll also notice a change in attitude. With Allyson I knew I had good odds she's a univeristy grad in child care; but she get's them outside Brad comes home pleased as pie about his life and says oh a lot:) She also taught him a cool high five and low five a skill everyone year old needs. If it's not working pay you care and find someone else
541724
i have a preschooler and i know she's just learning about the season changes. So you could do a 'weather' theme, and cut snowflakes (you know when you fold the paper up and cut it when it's opened it looks like a snowflake) and maybe for spring have them make a paper flower, and for summer have them color a picture of the lake/ocean/beach ... anyways something along that line. Good luck!! You sound like u have a fun job!!
78175
Visit a university library.  They have a wealth of informatin on childhood education and continuing education.
289777
I would think that, in the UK, you would have some sort of tutoring programs that contiue in the summer.  You could see about doing something like that, or maybe helping in a child care center for the summer.  That would give you some extra experience in dealing with children.  Or maybe do some private tutoring in your home to help students that need an extra push to get ready for next year.
485572
Being that you dont go to school you need to find out what other places all the kids go to hang out.  Join some groups, that will help a lot.