Offended by "Preschool in a Box"

Photo © 2005 Anissa Thompson



Today I clicked on a link recommended by a frugal blog that I *used to subscribe to advertising an "amazing" opportunity to make $40 an hour. How? By opening a preschool in your own home after buying someone's "preschool in a box" kit.

This advertisement is aimed at mothers who need an income and would like to spend quality time with their children at home. The ad is filled with infomercial gimmicks and disclaimers like, "not only will you not be guaranteed to MAKE money, you may LOSE money" with this program. Although this woman claims that this is absolutely not a "daycare," what she is describing is indeed considered a licensed family home daycare in the state of Massachusetts.

As someone who earned an Associate's Degree in early childhood education and fulfilled the state required hours of experience working with children over 15 years ago in order to be licensed to even teach in a preschool, I am seriously offended that anyone would peddle a boxed kit that leads people to believe they will be qualified to teach other people's children.

Gee, I sure hope someone soon comes up with an "accountant in a box" or "surgeon in a box" because I would love to make lots of money with no specialized education or experience!

I hope that no one falls victim to this "get rich quick" scheme. As with anything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

*I immediately unsubscribed from this blog. I felt that any person who could push this type of (for lack of better word) crap on their subscribers, is not to be trusted.

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Even though I've been a blogging slacker for months, I couldn't resist participating in the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 from 5 Minutes for Mom.

Although I enjoy blogging and have met so many wonderful and talented moms while doing so, I found that I started having a very difficult time juggling everything and doing it well -- sound familiar?

I'm entering my 2nd to last semester before earning my B.A. in early childhood education while working as a nanny for a terrific little boy about to turn two! For the past two years I have taken three classes each quarter without a break, but in 10 weeks I am taking the summer off from school before doing my final internship and one other class in the Fall.

I can't tell you how wonderful it will be to get bits of my life back; spending more time with my family; getting back to blogging and keeping up with my many favorite bloggers; and continuing to delve into my family tree. I keep saying to myself...10 more weeks...10 more weeks...

Thanks to the Ultimate Blog Party, I'm taking the time today to jump around a bit and find some new blogs to follow -- hope you find some too!

If I am lucky enough to win one of the great prizes from the UBP 2010, my top three would be:

US1 or US2 – Win a $150 shopping spree at Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles or A Rocking Horse to Love from 5 Minutes for Mom


US74 - a $30 Gift Card to Amazon.com from A Full Cup


Others that would be great to win if those are chosen: 60, 56, 7, 19, 14, 77, 27, 23, 52, 31, 32, 37, 15 or being a practical person, any of the gift certificates to Amazon, Walmart, or Target would be wonderful as well. Thank you!

How You Can Join the Party:

Read and comment on the Blog Party at 5 minutesformom.com post to be entered in the draw for PRIZES.

If you have a blog, write a party post on your site, include a UBP 2010 BUTTON, and tell them which prizes you want if you win.

Add your blog url AND/OR your Facebook link AND/OR your Twitter link to the appropriate Mck Linky on their site

Visit tons of blogs, Facebook pages and follow new Twitter friends from the Mr. Linkies.

Tantrums Revisited at BAM! Radio

Recently I was contacted to participate in a round table discussion on the subject of tantrums for BAM! Radio (that's me in the bottom right photo above). I had never heard of BAM! before, but found that it offers a tremendous amount of information for parents, childcare providers, and teachers on early childhood topics.

My post here at New England Nanny on temper tantrums was targeted at parents of toddler children, while the round table discussion was geared more towards handling tantrums in a classroom of preschool and older children. It sure was intimidating to be on the panel with two accomplished experts; both doctors (one Ph.D and one M.D.) and authors, however, both offered interesting new research and information on how to better manage tantrums.

I love to learn new information by reading, but for others who may prefer information presented in an audio format, you might want to check out the many topics and expert advice offered there. Below is not only a link to BAM! Radio, but to the page of the tantrum discussion:


Dealing with Temper Tantrums in the Classroom