Preschool..or not....

[anna-bananas]

I had orginally wanted to send Jamie (she just turned 4) to preschool in the fall but I was unable to find one in our area that was just 2 or 3 days a week...that's really what I would like for her. But anyway, I was searching the importance of preschool on the internet and this is one thing I found, but pretty much everything I found matches this for the benefits of preschool:

This is from http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/curriculum/why-preschool-matters/

The Importance of Preschool

1. What's the difference between childcare and preschool?

Childcare centers are generally an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 3- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule (for example, a few hours a day, two to five times a week) as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers kids similar advantages to a preschool. "In fact, many preschools are part of childcare programs," says Linda Smith, executive director of the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies. (To learn more about high-quality childcare -- as well as preschool programs -- log on to naccrra.org and download a free copy of Is This the Right Place for My Child?)

naccrra.org >>


2. How important is preschool?

"There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool," says Parents advisor Kathleen McCartney, PhD, dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time."

Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool: According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. "Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not," says NIEER director W. Steven Barnett, PhD.

"Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten," says Amy Flynn, director of New York City's Bank Street Family Center. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, she'll learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. "Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behavior-management skills," Smith says.

In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.

3. What will my child learn?

In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. "Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time," says Angela Capone, PhD, senior program manager at Southwest Human Development's Arizona Institute for Childhood Development, in Phoenix. "Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them -- what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation."

4. But what about learning his ABCs?

"Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit kids down and 'teach' them is the wrong way to do it," says Smith. "They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting -- storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks." To help kids learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills -- not achieving academic milestones. "Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize -- that's what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5," says Flynn. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being[ read to.

So, are you sending your child to preschool before they start kindergarden? Or for those of you have kids in kindergarden or up now, did they go to preschool? How are they doing based on if they went to preschool or not?

[<3 Susan <3]

Blake went to Preschool and he knows alot now. He can write his name, write all his letters, recognize a few sight words, of course he knows his abcs and can count to 100...... he learned important socialization skills. They got him ready for the "rough" life of kindergarten (teachers words not mine)

[~ Rebecca ~]

Kyara didn't go to pre-school. If I didn't have to work full time she'd be home schooled anyway. Kyara will be 5 on July 30th. She can write her full name, all her letters, she can read at a 1st grade level (based on her doctors review), she can write most simple words. And of course she knows he ABCs. However she has a terrible problem with numbers, I don't know why. She can take things and add them and tell you the total. But when just saying her numbers freely she always says 7,9,8... This continues all the way up, 17,19,18 etc etc. Its the weirdest thing. We will be working on that a lot over the summer.

I've seen kids benefit from pre-school greatly, especially when they have parents who don't teach them. But I've seen children, like my Kyara who excel without it because I teach her as a pre-school teacher would.

IMO if your child doesn't go to school then as a parent you should be essentially "home schooling" the child. Do what a child would do in pre-k. My sisters oldest daughter didn't go to pre-k and my sister didn't help her or teacher her anything, she is in summer school for kindergarten. Its important we as parents push our children to be the best they can be!

Ok I'm done rambling now. Education is a very important topic to me!

[MissLiss460]

Landon will be starting preschool in the fall. I have been researching schools and most of them in the area are 3-4 half days a week. I think it will ease him into going on a regular basis and learning to sit and listen and socialize before kindergarten.

[SassySami]

kaytie didnt go.. i felt awful but school is pricey around here.. hell Kinder is $300 a month... so i study with kaytie at home, but you know who her best teacher is Debbie loves loves to teach her stuff.. when debbie does her homework, she would explain, clocks coins etc with her.. kaytie will begoing to kinder but only half day 5 times a week which i think will be super good for her it will ease her into school...

[anna-bananas]

Landon will be starting preschool in the fall. I have been researching schools and most of them in the area are 3-4 half days a week. I think it will ease him into going on a regular basis and learning to sit and listen and socialize before kindergarten.

That was my primary reason for wanting Jamie to go to preschool. We work with her at home and always have, she is super smart. She knows her colors, her ABC's, her numbers, and we are working on writing her letters now. But all the preschools in my area for 4 year olds are 5 days a week & I don't want her to go 5 days a week-my work schedule & the price of the preschool makes it not doable for us.

[Kimberli]

We will be sending Nicholas to preschool next fall, he will turn 3 in February so he will be 3.5 when he starts. For us, its more important that he have the experience of being without me and in a structured environment with other kids his own age. Of course the learning aspect is important but I can teach him at home what he needs to know but I can't do the other on my own...

[MissLiss460]

The prices are high. Pres will even be going to a toddler program for 2yr olds Tues and Thurs from 9:00-10:45. Landon will go from 9-12 so I can drop them both off and either bff, my sis, or mil will pick Pres up so I dont have to make an extra trip. then I can pick Pres up at their house when I go get Landon. It is $200/mo for Landon and $97/mo for Pres. It will be tight to pay for it but you get a discount for paying it all at once and a 10% sibling discount, so it will average out at about $250/mo.

[~ Rebecca ~]

Anna - try other programs. If its not about the learning aspect but more about being around other children you can find something. Near me there is a place that offers different programs for "home schooled" children. Kyara is VERY socially inept and gets along with other kids with no issues because she went to this program 3 days a week.

[Tracy]

Around me, Kindergarten is HARD. Its nothing like when we (or I at least!) went. When I went, we learned how to write letters and numbers, you learned to tie your shoes, it was a big deal to loose a tooth and get a paper tooth on the wall, etc. We did not read yet. I remember having to be tutored between K and 1st because I was now going to a private school and it was much more advanced than the public school I went to for K. But even then, all I was learning was stuff like, "Hop, hop, hop! The bunny hops!" Its nothing like that now. Now, they expect kids to come in knowing how to write, they're behind if they can't read (simple books) already, they write 3-4 SENTENCES in journals almost daily, math is much more than just 1+1=2, Cameron had to do an oral report (which included doing research, citing where he found his information, writing it down in essay form and then presenting a picture of his subject along with a minimum of 4 memorized facts) at the end of the school year. I know for a fact my first oral report was in 4th grade because that was when we got history added as a true subject and it was a history report. They have 6-8 spelling words a week too (first grade starts at 8, moves to 10 after about 2 months and the 2nd half of the year its 12 a week).

Cameron went to preschool for 2 years and was still struggling in K at first because he couldn't read and writing was an issue for him. His preschool didn't pressure him to try much more than writing his name. However, I'm glad he went because he would have really been behind had he not gone in knowing what he did. And it taught me what the preschool teaches versus the Kindergarten and what I need to do with Sam.

Sam will start his 2nd year of preschool in the fall. He learned how to write his name which is a year ahead of Cameron. This year, I'm hoping he masters writing every letter (he does very well copying me but needs more) and I'm going to work on sight words with him as well. I send my kids 2 days a week the first year just to introduce them to the school system and routine of me taking them and leaving them. The 2nd year is 5 days a week because its more like Kindergarten. K is 3hrs and 20mins at Cameron's school and preschool is 3 hours. When Sam starts K, Megan will start her 2 days a week at the preschool. I could have done Megan this fall 2 days a week (well, if I could have afforded it! haha!) but then she'd go 3 years instead of 2 and I like the idea that none of my kids are there together. I think its important for them to be completely away from family. We're together all the time and I don't feel my kids need to cling to each other at school too. School is a time for them to be away from the family and to learn how to function without mommy or brother or sister.

[StephiePoo]

I think Tracy has some very valid points! I strongly believe in setting your children up to be as succesful as possible. Preschool is very nessesary I believe. Dee Dee would of been very behind without it. And she is a very smart girl and knew all her letters, numbers etc. I taught her at home. Preschool is also about socialization in a CLASSROOM, and teaching your kids how to sit still and listen, raise their hand and follow directions. If your kids aren't prepared when going into K they are hindering others learning IMO..

[~ Rebecca ~]

The program Kyara went to WAS in a classroom. Its created for home schooled children. She does know how to sit still and listen AND raise her hand if/when necessary. To say a child wouldn't learn these traits because they didn't go to pre-k is ridiculous. My daughter is far advanced above all the children her age we know. That's all based on MY teachings, not pre-k. I'm sort of insulted that its implied she is missing out on something because she didn't go to pre-k.

[SassySami]

thank you Rebecca you said what I wanted to say but more tactful

[~ Rebecca ~]

Np Sami :0). I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking its acceptable have not gone to pre-k

[MissLiss460]

I think those are some good points. I think kids behave differently when they have mommy or siblings around. I am glad Landon and Pres will be in different classes. Landon will have 1 year of preschool, 1 year of pre-k, then k. Pres will be doing a toddler program then preschool next year.


I'm sort of insulted that its implied she is missing out on something because she didn't go to pre-k.

They are missing out on something....pre-k. But it is up to you to decide if it is necessary for your child, so I dont think anyone is being critical, just stating reasons we choose to send our kids.

[cmanning127]

Cody will go to preschool 2 days a week in the fall. He will be in a 3 year old class from 9-1130 in the morning. The price is right for me at $85 a month. For us it's a good choice because he gets interaction with other kids and will also learn the skills I believe he needs to succeed in Kindergarten. Each child is different in how they learn. I have worked on a lot of things with him and he can count, say his ABCs and recognize some sight words. He is a tremendous vocabulary for a 3 year old. But he will sit and learn in a class room setting more than he will at home. Maybe it's because it's not me teaching, I don't know.

[~ Rebecca ~]

MissLiss460 03:08 PM Today
They are missing out on something....pre-k.

No she's missing out on NOTHING, she went to the program longer than most kids go to pre-k. To me it sounds like some of your are saying home schooling would be "wrong". According to what is being said by some, these home schooled children would be "missing out".

Seeing how my daughter is reading and writing way above average, has amazing social skills, I don't think she has missed out on anything. I can say with great confidence that SHE missed NOTHING by NOT going to pre-k.

During our home schooling picnic on Monday I'll have to see how many of those mothers feel their children are/have "missed" out.

[StephiePoo]

Not my intention to insult anyone! Not everyone teaches their kids these things! Its great that you are! But that is not the case with everyone! Some parents don't teach their kids anything making the teachers assume full responsibilty! I'm shocked by the amount of parents that do not take the time to teach their kids even their abcs, numbers etc. Also the number of parents that do not help out their first and second graders with homework. When a child goes into K and does not know how to sit still and raise their hand etc..it DOES hinder everyone elses learning!!! Or if the teacher is going over and over letter recognition for one or two kids it just isn't fair. At the same time each school has different requirements for entering into k...some more strict than others..

[Momof2Girls]

Okay, don't shoot the teacher here. If you're working with her at home..great!! Then she's obviously not going to be missing out on the academics. I certainly don't know your area and the demands of kinders. in your area but they are CRAZY here..so if you choose not to send her at all keep plugging along with working on numbers, letters etc at home.

On the social aspect- Pre-school- helps them adjust to sitting still and adjusting to being in a classroom with 15-20 other children and gaining that attention span. Personally, I saw a lot of kids this year who got knocked through a loop the first month and a half of kindg. (full day) because they only did a 1/2 day etc. program and were so exhausted because their little bodies were so not use to the demands of the program.

Now speaking to the parent side- you do what you can afford and what is best for your child. My dd, does not meet the cutout for kindg. this year so she's going to Pre-K again this year but I'm upping her time..she's going to a program 8:30-2:30 4 days a week to help her adjust. Good Luck with your decision!

[cmanning127]

I don't think they are saying that all home school kids are missing out, but there are some home school kiddos who NEED that social interaction. I know a LOT of people who home school and there are some kids that did great, even excelled in every area but there are some kids who didn't have the social skills they should have had at their age. Every one is entitled to their own opinion and every child learns differently. I think it's great Rebecca that she is doing so well, shows how great you are doing with teaching her....but not every parent is cut out for that either.

[Momof2Girls]

Not my intention to insult anyone! Not everyone teaches their kids these things! Its great that you are! But that is not the case with everyone! Some parents don't teach their kids anything making the teachers assume full responsibilty! I'm shocked by the amount of parents that do not take the time to teach their kids even their abcs, numbers etc. Also the number of parents that do not help out their first and second graders with homework. When a child goes into K and does not know how to sit still and raise their hand etc..it DOES hinder everyone elses learning!!! Or if the teacher is going over and over letter recognition for one or two kids it just isn't fair. At the same time each school has different requirements for entering into k...some more strict than others..


Exactly..don't take offense to this.. I have pre-k summer school kids.. 3 do not know their colors..why??? bc their parents don't work with them. Colors? You learn them at like 2-3 years of age! 5 of my kinders this fall did NOT know they had a last name..how's that for missing out!

[StephiePoo]

I have no problem with homeschooling at all what so ever! But we are talking about school! I'm sure if someone who was homeschooled for 1st 2nd and 3rd grade theb entered school it would be a huge adjustment...no academic wise...but in the adjustment aspect of going from being an only student..to being one of possibly 30! Kudos to homeschool mommas... I would do it..but I don't have the patience and I won't be home forever to commit to that!

[~ Rebecca ~]

Sorry I got a bit testy! I don't think anyone is belittle or insulted ME personally. Again I'm sorry for coming off like that.

I believe in my first post I said there are children who need it. A perfect example is my sister who doesn't do anything with her children. So when her daughter started K this year without going to pre-k, she was side swiped, she knew nothing! Now she's in summer school because it was harder to understand.

Kyara went to a program for home schooled children. She went M,W and Thur. 9-1. It was a classroom setting allowing the children to socialize and be with other children their age and to help those who were going to "real" school to adjust to a desk and sitting.

We met with her K teacher (she starts in sept) and we did a "preview" for 2 hours one day. Kyara new everything they were teaching and even her teacher was amazed.

Again I'm sorry if I lashed out.

[MissLiss460]

I think a program like that is great and is awesome especially for people that cant afford preschool. Some preschools are outrageous in price. So programs like that are very needed and helpful.

[~ Rebecca ~]

I paid for it :0( but it was only $90 a week, pre-k was $280 a week. But it was great, plus she did gymboree once a week.

[MissLiss460]

I cant believe preschools in some areas are that expensive. Dont they offer grants or discounts?

[~ Rebecca ~]

Yup but I always made too much for it. Even when I was unemployed! Go figure right!

[SassySami]

pre K here is $150 a week for 3 days at 2 hrs

[AbsoluteLM]

We will definitely be sending Andrew to preschool when he is older. (New York has free universal pre-k for four year olds, however.)

Have you looked into any Montesoori programs in your area? They might not be too expensive for a couple of days and the kids learn a ridiculous amount of stuff. My little cousin new the countries of the world before she was in kindergarten!

[*~Kiana~*]

Dakota did not go to Pre-K, Xzavier did. I think you also have to understand your child, Dakota wasn't shy and made friends easier so Pre-K wasn't necessary for socialization, Xzaiver is and Pre-K helped him. They both knew what they needed, but I wanted him to have that classroom setting before starting K this year.

[~ Rebecca ~]

New York has free universal pre-k for four year olds, however.

Rockland county NY offers NO free pre-k. The last class was in the North Rockland school district and it ended in June 2009. So when I started looking around I called the department of education and found out free pre-k was no long an option. Which SUCKS!

[MamaCulby]

I know I'm coming into this discussion late but I believe that if whether or not a child needs preschool should be determined by the personality and educational level of the child. If you have a child who is very clingy to mom and has never been away from her and you plan on sending the child to school the child NEEDS to go to prek so he or she can get used to be away from mom. When the anxiety isn't delt with before K starts it makes school very hard on the child and keeps the teacher from really teaching the child for the first few months because she has to deal instead with the childs insecurities.

That said, pre k is not necessary if the child is well socialized with children his or her own age (not siblings! the social dynamic there is completely different there than it is between strangers) and has all the necessary skills for kindergarten. They absolutely need to be able to count to 20, know their shapes and colors, write their own name legibly (preferably first and last).

If you choose not to send your child to prek that's ok. Many children don't go and come to school behind the ones that do. It all evens out eventually (this is a totally different hot topic for me). Just don't sit around with your 3-5 year olds and think "I don't have to teach this stuff. School will do it for me!" That is the worst attitude you can have and I have met alot of people who think that. You are your child's first and best teacher and if you can get your child off to a good start they will get so much more out of school.

[scrapper1967]

A few thoughts, I think the important piece here is that they are prepared for school. I believe it can be acheived through pre-school or at home, depending on the child and the parent. There are tons of ways to expose children to socialization. Play groups, Sunday school class, City Parks programs, etc. It is harder now, things are much more different these days, older parents may not realize all that a child needs to know to begin Kindergarten.

An option may be a special needs/at risk pre-k program. They are not just for this type of student. They want regular ed students and have openings for them. The interaction is crucial for the program specific kids, and it provides pre-k teaching, as well as learning to interact with all kinds of people.


As far as the comments regarding the teachers who "have to take time to work individually with students". You may be jumping to some conclusions about the parents here. How do you know they didn't take the time to teach their children what they needed for K? How do you know they don't have a learning difference? Do these children not deserver the attention they need to be successful?

[~ Rebecca ~]

Well said Lori!

[StephiePoo]

of course they deserve to learn as well! All children do! But I have a daughter who is going into 3rd grade who last year had 2 kids in her class whose parents would not help them with homework. They had to sit in class and do it. It is entirely the parents responsibilty to make sure homework is done at home! In cases like those I believe it is the parents fault, as well as when a child doesn't know what they should to enter K. And if it is do to a learning problem, than that should in turn be addressed. Just like prepareing your children for K is the parents responsibilty. A learning disibilty is an entirely different problem. I agree with the importance being prepardness acedemically, regardless if it is at home, or in a school setting, but I also think you should prepare them for being in a class with a roomfull of other children! My daughter still has kids in her class who throw temper tantroms that disrupt the entire learning process. That is unacceptable. Kids need to learn the skills to suceed in a classroom setting. I hope I made sense..lol..I am one hand typing on my laptop while feeding Khloe

[StephiePoo]

I don't mean a learning disabilty is a problem....I mean an issue that obviosly needs extra attention

[~ Rebecca ~]

Stephie I think some of these kids that through temper tantrums are just spoiled and don't like sharing attention. I don't think its a situation of not being prepared for a classroom. A child should be raised to sit quietly when told to do so in any setting not just school. IMO anyway

[scrapper1967]

A consideration for you, regarding the parents who don't ensure their children do their homework. I totally agree with what you are saying. We need to be responsible for helping them at that age. Although some of the responsiblity falls on them as well. There may be other issues to why this isn't happening. The parents may not have the ability to help their child. True story: Our oldest son attended a visitation with his biological dad (he was our foster son at the time), he was in 1st grade. That evening we asked him to go his homework, but he assured us very proudly that his dad had helped him at visitation. We had him bring it to us anyway to check it. Not one math problem was correct. Our son has a significant learning disability, as I'm sure his dad does as well. He did not have the capability to do 1st grade homework.

Another scenario: I would say I am fairly intelligent, as is my husband, but we struggled with helping our children with some of their homework even at an earlier age. It wasn't that we don't now how to write complete sentences, and add, but teaching strategies change. Not everything is done the same as when we were taught. Some of it is all about using different terminology, too. They use totally different words for the same things. I realize you are speaking of a chronic problem that may be way more serious then what I am talking about.

As far as learning disabilities go - that is a whole nother thread. You are absolutely right that if that is the problem it should be addressed. Unfortunately it is not as easy as that with our current education system. This is a nation wide issue not just local. Even those schools that handle a little better have room to improve. I know a lot about this issue, having educated myself to ensure that my children receive the services they need - it has not been an easy task.