Liv Tyler Tells Milo School Is Cool (For Now!)
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Collaborating with GapKids to launch her own line for the company, Stella McCartney can already count close friend Liv Tyler as a fan of her designs.
“It’s the coolest thing since sliced bread,” Liv raves to Celebrity Baby Blog while hosting the debut party. “Children mainly want to be comfortable. They get very dirty and run around and go to school and they have to be able to pull their own pants up and down.”
The actress speaks from experience; Her son Milo William, 4 ½, attends a preschool program at a local Montessori school. And while he is learning to read — a process Liv calls “amazing — Milo isn’t always happy to head off to class. “He’s doing really well, but it is hard work obviously,” she explains.
Although her son sometimes refusing to go to class, the 32-year-old actress admits she’s not willing to give in when it comes to academics. “I just say, ‘We’re going to school, that’s what you do. You have to go to school,’” she says.
“And I told him to enjoy it now because it’s fun now. Soon he’ll have homework and it’s not so fun.”
Despite the slight bump in the road, the proud mama reports that Milo continues to surprise her each day. “He amazes me everyday with how much he grows and how incredible he is,” she shares.
Milo is Liv’s only child with ex-husband Royston Langdon.
– Anya with reporting by Tiffany Matloob
- Posted on Nov 7, 09 at 2:00PM
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- 27 Comments
November 7th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
My daughter attends a Montessori program as well-it’s always to nice to see others embrace Montessori education at an early age!
November 7th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
That kind of makes me sad. Sometimes age 4 is too young to separate from parents and it’s OK to put daycare/pre-school off another year or even until Kindergarten when children are more ready to separate. You can teach your children to read and write at home while also providing many socialization opportunities with classes, friends, cousins, neighbors, etc. at that age.
There is such a push to grow up fast and separate and some children just are not ready!
November 7th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
momof4, that’s true, but I think there’s a stigma when kids get behind other kids in school. Growing up you ALWAYS know which kids were held back a grade. I think I’d rather just let my kids get used to being in school. If you go through college, most likely you’ll be in school for 19 years straight. May as well get used to it
November 7th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I agree completely with her statement in the second paragraph! I used to teach preschool, and some parents would send their children to school wearing pants with belts and buckles and snaps and buttons – it was crazy at potty time! And those were the kids who always had “accidents” because they couldn’t get undressed fast enough. I know that some people think that sweats look sloppy, but at least my son can get his pants up and down by himself. I say “yay” for elastic waists!
November 7th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
momof4 – whats the usual age for a child to start school in america?
just curious because i live in england, and here its normal for a child to leave nursery at 4, and start primary at 4/5 depending on what month you were born. I was four when I started-and loved it!
November 7th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Sending children to a quality early childhood program (the key here being quality) does not have to jeopardize the bond between the child and their parents. If anything, it helps create young children with a strong sense of self who are eager to explore the world around them. I don’t understand why early childhood education gets such a bad rap. A lot of children miss out on key experiences (for a variety of reasons) in their early years due to not being exposed to a variety of stimuli that enhance key areas of development and being in a quality program can help give that to them (if their parents have the means). Many children who are kept at home and not given opportunities to interact within a group of their peers have difficulty making that transition by age 5 (I speak from experience as I am a kindergarten teacher). If a family is able to take advantage of an early childhood program, I say, “Go for it”. For those children whose families provide rich experiences, attending a quality program simply enhances their education and development!
November 7th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Natasha, Why would you assume that children not attending daycare/preschool would be “behind” when they begin Kindergarten? My two oldest did not attend and both teachers were surprised to find out they were homeschooled considering they were both above-level students in Kindergarten (and continue to be so now, if I may brag a bit) now in 5th and 2nd grade. My children have not suffered at all scholastically or socially due to being homeschooled before Kindergarten. If anything, they have a solid foundation of trust and love from spending those early years with me and never had to deal with the separation issues that Liv speaks of.
skipsie, Where I live in California a child must be at least age five by December 1st to start Kindergarten. Although I must say that my friends whose children have late Summer/early Fall birthdays are being held back and beginning the following year when they are 5+ years to give the children another year to grow and ready themselves for school which I applaud and think is quite smart. Why rush it?
I would like to add that I am a stay-home Mom and have the time, resources, and drive to devote to educating my children before school and I realize that many parents have to use daycare or pre-school due to work so this is not always an option.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
““And I told him to enjoy it now because it’s fun now. Soon he’ll have homework and it’s not so fun.”
That doesn’t sound like a good thing to tell a kid : /
November 7th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I started school @ 4 yrs old. This was back in the 70’s, when you could start kindergarten at 4 yrs old. I felt i was never behind. Also, i never went to nursery school.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
momof4, I love your philosophy and comments. How lucky your children are. I like what you said about your children having a solid foundation of trust and love from spending those early years with you.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I think in the Netherlands you have t go to school from 4 years old. This is stipulated by the government. But the first 2 years are kindergarten and it’s just playing. You don’t start to read until you are 6.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I think it really just depends on your child. You can tell if your child is ready to start at 4 or 5. Two of my sons went to preschool, my second son was so wanting to start preschool (at 4) because he was used to seeing his big brother in school and wanted to be like him, make school friends and do school activities. My third child, a daughter, had no interest in going off to preschool as she wanted to stay home with her newborn brother and spend time with us. She started Kindergarten at 5 and not only was she not behind, but she was totally ready and a year later she is still doing great socially and academically. But she also has the advantage of playing school with her brothers at home all the time, they really learn so much from each other. I loved your post momof4!
November 8th, 2009 at 12:56 am
momof4, well I guess if you’re homeschooling them that would be different.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:32 am
I agree with Megan…
“And I told him to enjoy it now because it’s fun now. Soon he’ll have homework and it’s not so fun.”
- doesn’t seem like it would inspire anyone to want to keep going!
November 8th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Momof4, I agree that some kids aren’t necessarily ready for preschool at age 3 or 4. However, I don’t think 3 hours twice a week is such a bad thing. My son is 3 and started preschool twice a week and he didn’t want to go at first. He is very shy and when I have taken him to different classes and he doesn’t get involved because he’s not there long enough to make friends really. So I decided to socialize him two ways – one on one friendships and preschool, where he will have a chance to really get to know the other kids over a long period of time. the first month was tough – he cried when I dropped him off, but now he can’t wait to go and he doesn’t cry at all – he LOVES it! I think it’s important to know your child and what he/she can handle, and I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to give him/her a little push to try something that’s just a bit outside their comfort zone.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:40 am
momof4, not everyone has the luxury of staying home with their kids. Most parents work for a living, so sending kids to daycare isn’t an option, it’s a way of life. I really don’t appreciate women like you who look down on others who didn’t (or couldn’t) make the same choice you did.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Where does it say that Milo isn’t ready for separation? He just doesn’t like to work, that’s universal
November 8th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Oh, he’ll be fine. I hated going to school when I started, too, but I finished on top of the class. Yes, I still remember. Haha
-meream
November 8th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Julie,
You must have not seen this part of what momof4 said
“I would like to add that I am a stay-home Mom and have the time, resources, and drive to devote to educating my children before school and I realize that many parents have to use daycare or pre-school due to work so this is not always an option.”
In addition, sometimes there is this image of the stay at home mom as someone who has plenty of money, etc. I have known many stay at home moms whose families are just scraping by – they have had to make great financial and career sacrifices in order to have one parent at home.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Some people also have the “time, resources, and drive to devote to educating their children”, but they still choose to work outside of the home to instill in children knowledge of a work ethic that can help provide for their family. I also want my daughter to know that she can successfully have a family (and love, care, and educate them in their early years) while still working outside of the home in a field that she is passionate about. Everyone has a different philosophy on this topic, I know, but it is helpful when they do not write about it in such a way that puts down those who choose to work or those who must work in order to scrape by.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Baby Carriers, I completely agree. My youngest, who’s almost three, started a program in September where he attends classes two days a week for three hours. He enjoys the sense of independence he has gained and loves to socialize with other children. While I do work full-time, I would’ve chosen the same for him if I was at home as it’s not about convenience.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Thank you, Jane
I feel that your children (present or future!) are/will be lucky, as well.
michelle, I didn’t intend to put anyone down but I do feel strongly that the early years of a child are best spent with a parent. There will be plenty of time to show my children that work outside the home is important when they are older and don’t need me as much as they do now. It wasn’t that long ago that Kindergarten was the place for children to become independent, learn social skills, and spread their wings.
And believe me, I know how fortunate I am to be able to do this! I think about it every day and cherish this opportunity.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
oh my son is the same…he doesn’t want to go to school
November 8th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I believe it depends on the quality of childcare as well as their philosophy on separation. My daughter just started part time preschool and they go through a fantastic separation process where the parents stay until the child is ready for them to go, and than gradually start leaving for a period of time until there gone for the whole time. Let’s face it most of the separation process is harder on the parents than the kids! So this way allows the children and parents to feel comfortable.
Also Milo’s feelings could be triggered by other things like traveling a lot or his parents divorce. A quality preschool would help the parents and children deal with the real issues involved.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
momof4,
Thank you so much!
November 13th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
My 4-year old daughter just said one morning after being home sick for a couple of days, “I wanna go to my daycare a 100-million times!” Me and my wife where not sure if we should leave her there that day or not. All our three kids went to montessori daycare here in Sweden, and I am only positive about what it has meant to them and their early development.
She goes there at about 8.00 and we pick her up at like 2-4 pm (she decides in the morning how long she wants to stay). If I should have an opinion about whats best for the kid, I’d say the parents are often pretty intuitive about when their kids suffer or benefit. Some kids cry alot when their parents leave them (maybe they should be home more) and some run straight inside – almost forgetting to wave byebye.
Here in Sweden daycare is paid by the government, so 99% of parents leave their kids at daycares and go to work. And honestly, in many cases when parents leave toddlers below 1 for full days – it’s not good. We was going to start with our now 4-year old when she was 2.5, but we felt not good about it so we waited another 6 months until she was 3. Then she just loved going there. Bottomline here: use common sense and your parental intuition
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:03 am
What kind of lesson would she be teaching her son if he threw a fit because he didn’t want to go to school that day, and she said “okay, you don’t have to this time?”
He probably has a great time once he gets there, too. I started preschool at age 2.5 and loved it, but when I started kindergarten I freaked out and cried for about an hour the first day. I got over it, had a good rest of that day, and didn’t have a problem the next day. Some things aren’t negotiable.