To Go or Not to Go to Preschool ?

I tried to send my son to daycares with a preschool in it and also did a at home preschool with him. With my second one I will send him to a preschool and not think twice about it. My fist son is not is grade K and is doing fine, but we have to work very had at keeping up with the other kids. The teacher said that most of the kids in his class have gone to preschool and so it looks like he is below the others when in fact he is doing very well since he did not go to preschool. It is just amazing what the kids do when in a groope with their peers. It seems like the kids can learn so much better. good luck!!!

I say yes he will be so far behind the other children who went to preschool . I work in a preschool and they learn so much to get ready for school . It is so worth it . Both my kids went and I am glad they did .

Definately yes to preschool...even just a day or two a week. It makes a huge difference in socializing and preparing. In speaking with teachers, we were told that their is a HUGE difference between kids that go to preschool vs. not, in how well they adjust to their first year in school. In first grade, we were also told that within three days all the teachers could tell which kids attended all day kindergarten vs. half day by how they acted and learned with about a 99% accuracy rate.

As a teacher and a mom you need to know how important preschool is. First, you need to know that boys develop slower than girls. So, getting your child involved in group play and socialization will drastically benefit him when "school counts." He needs the exposure especially if he hasn't gone to daycare. Play groups are great but even though he is only three he needs to be able to make simple decisions without mom or dad being there. For example, how to share, what to do when another kid isn't nice, when given a choice by an adult having the opportunity to make up his own mind. Always remember that there is a kindergarten screening test before a child can go to school. You could call your local school that you plan to send your child to and see what things you could do. Also, if you are a stay at home mom and have the time go and observe the preschools and encourage your husband to do the same. This often eases parents that are apprehensive. And maybe your husband is right that it might be to early. You may want to wait until your son is 5 instead of four. Either way start getting him involves. ECFE classes are a great way to transition kids too.

This year I teach first and second grade. Throughout the year I always go back to the kids kindergarten teacher and end up asking that very question. Did s/he go to preschool. The kids that are lagging behind are usually the ones that haven't gone to preschool or have some sort of family challenge (financial, move a lot, etc.). No matter how hard we try as parents there is no way we can do it all. Preschools are stocked full of supplies, lessons, manipulatives, music, etc. that would be hard for one household to have.

Also, if you have time there was just a great MPR story on this topic. If you did a search on their website I bet you could find it. May help convince your husband too.

Good luck, J.

Just my opinion..
I sent my daughter to preschool for 2 years straight. She didn't learn a darn thing hardly. I taught her the numbers,letters, how to write her name. They taught or helped her with socializing with peers, taking turns, classroom rules, how to follow directions listen.

I don't think it hurts to send your child to preschool but it's certainly not imperative either. I had alot of expectations with preschool things my daughter would learn and do and I was greatly let down. I learned the hard way if you want your child to learn something you gotta teach them yourselves.

I'm not sure I will send my 2nd child to preschool just because it's not cheap and my 1st child didn't get much out of it.

'

Looks like you have made a decision and WHOOP WHOOP for your decision. I think that persoanlly many moms have a hard time "cutting the cord" and it is because of wants and desires of the parent; not want and desires of the child. The parent says no to preschool because they want the child home with them or because they do not want to spend the money. All on them. The children are too young to make the decision. I think the right Preschool is AMAZING for all children. Gives them such life lessons that they can not get at home or in "organized mommy selected" play groups. People say, "but my child gets together with playgroups all the time." Well guess what, those play groups tend to have children who get along well because they have been together since birth or they are children with all similar up bringing. It does not give them a real dose of the reality of the world. I think all parents should send them. It is usally on 2 days a week and just a couple of hours. It teaches life lessons that the children carry forward for the rest of life.

We did not send our daughter to preschool (She is now 4 1/2.) And we are not planning on sending our son who is now 2 1/2. And I stay home with our 2 kids so they are mainly around adults as well. But with a sibling, they learn to share.

However, I did sign us up for our mixed ages ECFE class this past fall. That way, both kids and myself could go together. To be honest, it was not worth the money. They really just incourage you to play with your kids. They do NOT really do much to have the kids interact with each other.

So, I do NOT think preschool is all that important..... You can work with your son at home on the basics. Sounds of the alphabet, writing his name, sharing, etc. He will probably get more out of that than preschool.... But that is just my opinion.

S.,

I would say "do it." The first day of Kindergarten you can always spot the kids who haven't had any previous experience because they are in tears, screaming, and clinging to their mother's leg for dear life. Why put your kid through that?

It's not just the academic and the interaction with friends that makes preschool important. It's about following directions and listening to someone other than parents. It's about dealing with separation and independence. It's about learning to work within a schedule - that we do things in a certain order, start and stop at a certain time according to when our teacher tells us. Kids who don't have the preschool experience can have a hard time when the Kindergarten teacher tells them to do a certain project or stop at a certain time to switch activities if the child's whole life experience has been about doing things whenever he/she feels like it.

This has been my experience from teaching private preschool and Kindergarten, public elementary school and sending my own children to kindergarten.

I chose to do a mother's co-op preschool for all of my kids the two years before they entered Kindergarten. I teach one week in every six and each mom takes a one week turn. It's only 2 1/2 hours on Tues and Thurs. We purchased a curriculum that I love called "Joy School." It's only $140 per YEAR and included lesson plans, story pictures and music CDs. My kids were very well adjusted for Kindergarten and have done very well in school.

Good luck,
S.

Send him!! I work in an elementary school and every year it is really easy to pick out who had preschool and who didn't. Kindergarten is very academic now - the focus that used to be on social skills is much less than it used to be.

Your child's foundation in social skills (sharing, playing with others, following directions, sitting for circle time, etc) will make all the difference on how he does in Kindergarten.

There are a lot of great preschools in the Millard area - most are only half day programs a few days a week. I can not encourage you enough to enroll him in preschool!

As a teacher, I can tell you that it is easy to see which kindergareten students have been to preschool and which ones have not. For the most part, kids who have gone to preschool do have little better socialization skills, but more than that is they are familiar with an "academic setting". They know how to walk in line, raise their hand, sit still for longer periods of time, use a "public" bathroom independently, etc. A big part of kindergarten is learning those skills. Even just one year of preshool or daycare can make that transition smoother for you child. If you do decide to do pre school, look for one that does some academics (letter, color, shape, number recogniton, writing names, using scissors and glue). But it doesn't have to be too academic. Kids don't need to be reading and doing math before kindergarten. They just needs the basics. And like another poster said, a lot of the academics your child will probably learn at home. With all of that said though, I never went to preschool and I think I turned out just fine! ;)

Oh S., I understand this dilemma. I have sent my first 2 to preschool and will send the 3rd as well but I feel the dilemma every year. One thing that has put me over board this last year is that all of our kindergartens are all day now. ALL DAY seems so long to me for a 5/6 year old. I have been so lucky to stay home with my kids so talk about shock being away from mom for 8 hours everyday. That being said preschool has been a good experience for that reason alone. We were always active with cousins and playdates so socailly my kids prob could have been okay. My kids have loved their preschools so far! So that might be something to think about it you will be sending your little one to all day kindergarten. My youngest has this whole school year just her and I so I am having a super hard time with preschool. What ever you decide your child will be just fine. Good Luck with your decision. By the way, we did 2 years with my son (because I had just had number 2 so thought he would enjoy it), and the girls for one year before kindergarten.

I have found preschool to be invaluable for my two kids. They have learned a lot about social interaction, rules, songs, things like sharing, how to line up in a line, take turns, the structure of a school day, etc. Not to mention my older son learned to read and do math. Teachers would tell you that those are very important skills to have coming in to school.

It would be interesting to hear from a teacher. I have heard that it is difficult for teachers when the kids have not been to pre-school. The kids are behind in either social or acedemic skills or both.

I've sent my kids to pre-school 2yrs before. I would say the 1yr is essential, but 2yrs was great. They learn how to manage themselves is group environments, listen to instruction, follow rules a million skills that they don't learn from a home environment. They learn to sit and listen respectfully while another child talks about the weather for the day and does show an tell. Yes these are skills that they will learn in kindergarten, but if your child already knows these (if all children in the class know these) then the teacher can move on to the acedemic aspect of kindergarten.

Hope this makes sense. To me I would say that any education you can give your child isn't wasted and your giving your child more of a head start if they go to preschool. You can do your best at home but it's hard to accomplish the same things as a teacher in a school environment.

I can tell you as a former preschool teacher how very important it is for education during those early years. its not just the ABC's and 123's they learn how to socialize and share. Children are learning all the time even when we think they are just playing. I have taught my my daughter who is 3 everything she will learn(missed the preschool cut off by 10 days and they wouldn't make the exception.) I will send her in the fall just so she can have the social skills and I know she will learn new things and also things that I have taught her already. She will also learn to listen to a teacher and be a part of a group that skill she will need all though her schooling. I can tell you that kids that don't go to preschool for at least 1 year have a harder time adjusting to kindergarten. Preschool now is what kindergarten used to be when we were little. All of the children I taught knew how to count to at least 20 and reconize the numbers as well as the letters and knew how to spell their name, knew their home phone number and address. It is worth the time and the money. I hope that helps.

It will not hurt him to go to preschool. Especially if you are concerned with socializing him. It will be better to do it now then in kindergarten.

Our daughter is in her 2nd year of Preschool, not only for sociallizing but because they are asking so much more from kindergarteners now. It is not like when we went. Our daughter is also very shy and we have been amazed at how much more she is doing this year with programs and involvement in class.
Hope this helps
-E., mom to a wonderful 5 year old

He probably is fine without going to preschool at 3 but when he is 4 I would make sure he goes. You are right, it is important to learn the socializing skills but you can teach these with other situations. Compromise and send him next year instead of this year.

I was torn when my oldest turned 3 as well. I decided to do one year of preschool at age 4, the year before Kindergarten. My daughter had playdates and ECFE up to that point, but I found that it wasn't enough. She lagged behind in preschool being that she was the only one who didn't attend preschool as a 3 yr old. she was frustrated, cried a lot, and didn't want to go for the first few months of the year. The teacher was concerned that she would not be ready for K the following year and it scared us. As the year progressed she showed improvement and ended up just fine and is now thriving in first grade.
So, I highly suggest 2 yrs of preschool. I have 2 younger kids and my middle daughter is now in her first year (she's 3.5) and is light years ahead of where DD 1 was at this age. It also gets the kids used to making friends, following directions, and just getting used to the whole school thing.
Good luck w/ your decision!

Well, I think kids should go, they expectso much more of them at a younger age in school now, they are learning the things I learned in 1st grade, now in kindergarten, so I would guess pre-school will be somewhat like our kindergarten was, we learned all the letters, numbers, colors, socialization, tying shoes, writing your name! It is not just a glorified day care. Why doesn't your husband want him to go, is he not wanting to pay for the private prigram, or what?

I went to 2 years of preschool, ages 3 and 4, since I was an only child, and liek you said of your son, always around older kids or adults, it helped me to learn to make friends and meet all the kids I would be in school with the rest of my life, I am still friends at 32 years old, with people I met in preschool. I was also a great student from then on,and never had any issues in school.

My daughter will be over 3 and a half in September when school starts in 2010, and I intend to send her to preschool for 2 years, too, and we have a public preschool which is part of the regular school system here, I intend to send her there.

Good Luck, I don't see any reason he should not go, unless it is a money issue with the private tuition.

I think whatever you decide will be fine for your child. It is more how you will feel either way. And truthfully I think you as the mom will be affected more by the decision you both make so make one you will be happy with but know that whatever you do will be fine.

My extremely shy 4 year old is in preschool now and the outcome was amazing! We have a completely different kid! He has come out of his shell big time! My brother-in-law is a body builder and his appearance is intimating to lots of people but for my 4 year old he was scared of him! When we went home for christmas payton was sitting in his lap, talking about school, playing with his new nerf gun with him! This was a HUGE milestone, plus my brother-in-law was soaking it up! Preschool is an awesome tool to preparing your kids for kindergarden! For us it was so worth the extra money a month! Good luck

Ha your husband probably doesn't want to pay for it. Thats how my husband was saying that they dont need it. BUT yes it has helped a lot in having him socilaize and many other skills. YOu can try the shortest amount of time first like 1 a week or twice. You can always pull him out if its not working, but I son is going for the second year and he loves it!!

If you are wanting to put him in because you think it will make him smart then i would say no. BUT there is a lot of fun and socializing. Just think would you really want your 4 year old studying flash cards for 2 hours NO. Pre-school is mostly playing, learning how to share, following directions etc. My son (4) loves preschool and it also gives me time alone with my other child which is important too. If it is going to be a large financial strain they i don't thinkit is necessary but if you can afford it really is benefical for the child.

We did pre-school the year before kindergarten. What an exciting step it was (or still is in the case of our 4 yr old). They just bloomed! And I may be biased, but they were pretty awesome kids before pre-school but pre-school brought even more of their super awesomeness. My oldest made friends there that will be at his birthday party this weekend (5 yrs later)...How great was it that he got to start kindergarten with at least a few friends? They have music class, swimming lessons, field trips, mad scientist days (professors from local universities visit), pajama days. Gosh I could go on and on.

But....My husband and I work full-time. Would I have chosen pre-school if one of us stayed at home? Hmmm...We might have thought thru the decision much longer but ultimately, I think pre-school still would've been our choice. Way back when, when my mom was a SAHM in the 70s...She sent us to a year of pre-school before kindergarten too. I trust my mom...If she thought it was a good idea, then it works for me! : )

There is no need for your son to go to preschool. I'm not sending my 3 1/2 year old to preschool. I have heard Dr. Ray Guarendi, a psychologist and father of 10 children say there is no need to do it. His website is www.drray.com and is on the program The Doctor is In.

I think preschool is very beneficial to kids, especially ones that aren't around other kids their age very often. It sounds like he would really benefit from it. My only question is when is he going to start kindergarten? If he isn't going to start kindergarten for a couple more years, then going to preschool for 2 years might get boring for him. My daughter is 4, but just misses the cut-off for starting school this coming school year (2010), so she won't be starting until 2011. I think she would get bored the second year of preschool, which might also make her bored with kindergarten, too. Plus, it's an added expense and scheduling issue. So, I'd say try to get him involved with other things right now that give him exposure to kids and help him grow and expand, and then the year before he starts kindergarten, start him in preschool. For example, this year we are doing dance class once a week, church (so she sees her friends in nursery), swimming lessons, and we'll do a few community ed classes as we are able. My daughter goes to daycare part time and is very social, so if you don't have these types of avenues to use, then preschool 2 days a week would probably be the way to go. Hopefully that makes sense and helps!

My son is 2 and has been going to a Mom's Day Out class at Westwood Church (1 block south of 132nd and Center)for the last 6 months. HE LOVES IT! He has always been social, but it has helped him learn how to share and play nicely with other kids too. He loves listening to stories and singing and dancing. The teachers are wonderful and the program is top-notch.
Anyway, my point is preschool is really beneficial for kids. They love to learn and discover the things around them, and they thrive the most when they have established routines and boundaries. I think it would be something your son would really enjoy! I used to teach in Millard so I know that they offer excellent programs. Many area churches also provide excellent preschool programs as well. Good luck!

Hello! You have some differing opinions so far, so I'll put in my two cents!

I have a 28-month-old son and a 3-month-old daughter. My son knows all upper and lower case letters, the sound they make, combination sounds (sh, ch, etc.), colors, an impressive amount of shapes, and he can count to 30. Will I send him to preschool? Absolutely! I'm a teacher myself, so sure I worked with him at home and yes, he's quickly learning how to share with his sister. But that is not a substitute for the actual process of getting up, having breakfast, getting dressed, packing a little bag, and getting dropped off at a building away from mom with a teacher and classmates and new rules and routines he has to learn.

These days there are at least 20 children in the average kindergarten class. If 19 of them have been exposed to a preschool environment where they learned who and what a teacher was, how to sit, listen, stand in line, have a snack, raise their hand, work in groups, answer questions, transition from one activity to the next, etc., and ONE of them wasn't exposed to that? It's as though the other 19 shouldn't have bothered because the teacher has to take the time to teach that one child everything that the others already know. Not only does that single out and overwhelm the child who is just finally learning these things, but it also takes away valuable education time from the entire class.

If it is financially an option for you to send your child to preschool, please give him (and his future classmates) the wonderful opportunity of knowledge and confidence!