I'm debating over whether or not to have my 4 yr old start preschool next year. (note it may seem early to worry about this, but one school I'm looking at has sign ups in November) so that's coming up quick.
I've wanted to put my kids in preschool for a few reasons. One is I went to preschool when I was little so I always thought I wanted to do the preschool thing. Two, the social interaction. Three for anything that I may have missed teaching her.
But on the other hand I'm really sure that she knows or will know the alphabet and sound, shapes, counting, etc. All the pre-reqs for kindergarten.
I'm at home with my kids and have all the time to spend with them and teach them. Am I silly to want to send her to preschool? One thought I had was while she was at preschool I'd have time to spend one on one time with her little sister who will be almost 3 at the time. Time she's never had with just mommy.
Am I just wasting money? Granted she'll probably have lots of fun. She loves being social and doing activities.
Any thoughts?
Thank you so much for the positive feed back. I have really wanted to put her in preschool and now feel confident that its a good idea and worth the money. On a plus note, the school I want to send her too is only a few houses away so we can just walk. It'll give her something that is her's and she'll love it. Also the school I want to send her to is 2 or 3 days(what I choose) a week for only 2 1/2 hours so it's not too much time away from me.
She will love it. Other kids.. Getting to be a big kid in school. She will be on a nice schedule.
She will learn lots of the basics and be ahead the next year.
I would send her - having good socializing skills are not a bad thing to have when starting school. It sounds like she will have lots of fun!!
Best of Luck!
I am a former teacher and a sahm. My kids are 2.5 and almost 4. I was teaching them some preschool skills on my own and liked it, but I will admit it was hard to stick to a schedule for us. So I put them both in preschool. My son (4 on Dec. 2) goes M,W for 2.5 hours and my daughter goes on Friday for 2.5 hours. They both absolutely love it. Cannot get enough. They love their peers, they get to do fun art activities, music, cooking and play time along with concepts. I am really happy I gave them this opportunity. It also allows me to have one-on-one time while the other is at school. I say if you can afford to do it, do it. They can never be too prepared for school in my opinion. Good luck!
A.
http://m.npr.org/story/139583385?url=/blogs/money/2011/08...
Check out the NPR article on pre-school. They did a study that showed pre-school was the best thing you can do for your child's future success. The reason is that they learn to cooperate and to listen.
My daughter goes to a co-op preschool, so I get to participate. The school is all about play based learning. So she gets more ABC's from me, and learns to play with others at school.
She loves it and wants to go there every day.
I would suggest putting your daughter in preschool or mother's day out just part time. Even though your daughter doesn't need to go to preschool for the academics, it will be helpful for her to be used to a school environment and to being away from you before she starts kindergarten. And, of course, its good for her to socialize. But, you don't need to send her full time for her to get those benefits. My four year-old goes for 3 hours, 3 days a week, and I really enjoy the one-on-one time with my younger child.
BOTH my kids, LOVED LOVED LOVED, Preschool. I am a SAHM.
My kids, WANTED to go.
My kids went to a preschool, that they liked and which I found was nurturing and good.
They each went to a different preschool. I went to many with my child, and saw which one THEY responded to, in a positive way.
My kids actually told me "I LIKE THIS ONE MOMMY!"
It was an invaluable experience for them.
In many ways.
I loved preschool. My first needed it for social interaction, and an added benefit was spending time with her younger brother. My youngest couldn't wait to go after seeing his sister go. He needed it for academic reasons, he just wouldn't learn for me as well as for others, and it helped him with his speech issues. If you find the right one, it is great for social skills and to get kids ready to be able to separate from you for kindergarten. I don't think you are wasting your money.
We are doing something similar for the time with mommy reason. My middle child is in AM K-5, so we put our daughter in PM pre-K. This way the middle one has time just with me. We will probably let our daughter continue with K-4 next year as she is so loving preschool. We, too, need to make that decision very quickly. Either way, I'm sure your daughter will be ready and have fun!
I think preschool is a great idea! I get that you're teaching her at home and you "can" do all that, but honestly, it's nice to have additional support, it's nice to get a break, it's nice to have one-on-one time with your other child...you named all the pros! Also, as wonderful as preschool is...it's not as if you're taking a massive break and sending your kid off to the wolves...it's 2 hours. That's not very long and anyone who wants to make you feel bad for doing it should suck it! Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh, but you get my point! ;)
I felt like you do. My hubby felt like it wasn't needed since he was getting "everything" at home. So we compromised. I found a part time program that was extremely affordable at a local rec center. The cost was only $106 a month and my son went on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8-11. The teacher was certified. He got some independent time without mom, learned classroom etiquette and had fun. I got a bit of a break and enjoyed some one on one time with his sister. It was the perfect compromise for us and I am so glad I did it. I think our entire family benefited. I didn't realize that I would need some time adjusting to my little guy not being at my side all day. I really think it helped his transition into Kindergarten go much more smoothly for both of us. He learned a lot and absolutely loved it!
I teach in-home preschool and would say that as a mommy, I want my child home (hence the 'in-home') Lol, but I have to say that it goes beyond just abc's and such. The girls here are learning social skills like sharing, listening to directions, obeying the teacher, etc. The curriculum I teach involves months, days, sign language, science, math, and I add my own touches to it with crafts, field trips, and extra lessons and games and a daily workout.
Long story short, I understand the want to keep them home since I've done it with my 2nd daughter, but I also teach it, so I understand the importance of the school aspect.
I did not go preschool and thus far have not sent my daughter,who is also 4, to preschool. I feel tremendous pressure to do so and feel that if I do not follow this new norm, that I am somehow not giving my daughter what my husband and I feel is the best for her. I feel kids are only small for so long. We have playdates, we do activities, we go to parks, museums, zoos, etc. We work on manners and rules and letters and numbers. As soon as they are in school, they are in school until they graduate and then go off to college then work and then families of their own. I'm just enjoying all of the time I get to spend with her right now and trying to do my best for her.
I think if you can that she should. It will be good for her in so many ways.
My son just started preschool and he is 3. The only reason I wanted him to start now is because he gets no social interaction with other kids his age, besides the occassional playdate and I was worried about it. He has been going for a few weeks and he LOVES it. I feel like it's the best thing I've done for him. He knows how to count, he knows his ABC's and all of that stuff from me teaching him, but at preschool he is already learning so much more than just the basic stuff. It also gives me a break, my daughter is 1 and she either takes a nap during that time or I take her out somewhere and it's the only alone time we ever get, so it's nice. He goes 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours and next year when he's 4 he will go 3 days a week for 3 hours.
I see you've already made up your mind, but I wanted to put in my two cents: I think preschool is an excellent social, cognitive, and emotional way to prepare for Kindergarten. I don't think a full-time program is necessary, but your daughter will get so much out of a part-time program (as long as it is a well-run program!). Enjoy the time alone with your little one while B. sister enjoys her own "B. kid school" time!
School is about more than just learning ABCs and shapes and colors. School outside the home teaches you to interact with others who are different from you (people you didn't choose) and to follow the rules there. It teaches kids to listen to the teacher. I loved preschool for my son and my daugther loves it now too. The social interaction, the time alone for me and when my son was in preschool, the time alone with my daughter was great. But only you know your daughter, so only you will know if it is a good idea.
