How Necessary Is Preschool

How important is ABC and 123 for us actually before we start spelling out Mississippi and computing the square root of 5214. We all learned from the Basics of education. Kudos for all preschool teachers and mentors.

Hey Jennifer,
I agree their is so much you can teach your daughter at home, but what can be difficult is just teaching your daughter how to communicate and share with other children. I would suggest maybe signing your daughter up with a preschool program for a few days a week. Just enough for her to learn the basic school house rules on how to share with other friends, how to sit on the floor with other school friends, and how to just separate from you. Trust me, I see so many kids in my sons pre-k class that cry every morning when their parents drop them off. So yes you can teach your daughter so much more but it's good to start her early with learning how to act in a classroom. And trust me, I'm sure the kindergartner teacher will be happy to know, your daughter is ready for kindergartner. I hope my suggestion helps

I don't think preschool is right for everyone. If you love to teach your child the right things and take her to play groups so she gets socialization then she'll be fine. My stepmom has 8 children not one went to preschool and they are all honor students. Now if you see her having trouble learning I would take her to preschool only because if you help your child at an early age it's easier when they go threw the older grades.

Jennifer, I would send your daughter to a parttime preschool so she can develop her social skills. She needs to be able to do circle time, sit still in her seat, and follow classroom rules... Needs to be able to communicate with her teachers and peers. We sent our son parttime just for the social development. I teach him at home academically. He is 4 and was able to read last year, but socially he still needs additional help.

I am inthe Greenbackville/Captains Cove area and I am in the same delima. My daughter isin K and is doing very well but my son in a Jan baby and if I started him in a pre-school now it would be a full 2.5 years before K. I am a SAHM and was a teacher for years. I aggree with the one girl who said if ... if your daughter responds well to you as a teacher then you can do just as much at home as any pre-school. For now, we have decided to take the $ we would have spent on a Preschool and spend it on social settings.... Little kickers, t-ball, library time, YMCA sports, and I am trying to set up a weekly playgroup in our community. I would love to develop a co-op for mom mornings out. My son mostly needs socialization. I think this is the best play for us now we might change it the september he is 4.5 and still ca not enter K.
A.

I love my daughter going to preschool and so does she. I think there are wonderful things that can be learned in a group setting. My daughter went to a 2-3 year program last year and this year I actually have her in Pre-K five days a week. She will actually repeat Pre-K next year, because she does not meet the age requirement to start school next year. I want her to be nice and ready to deal with the all day kindergarten. There is so much that kids need to know before they start kindergarten these days. As for preschool being another form of daycare, I disagree. My child's school is very much a learning atmosphere, that's not to say they never play, but while they do they are also learning. I would suggest that you contact other moms in your area and find out which schools are best and then pay them a visit.

If your daughter does end up going to school, you might enjoy a bit of time to yourself as well. A mother's sanity can never be overrated.

I think that homeschooling can be a wonderful experience, but it does limit your child's time around other kids and sometimes another person has better ways to teach your child. My daughter is very smart, but headstrong and her teacher actually understands how to teach her better than I do.

I don't think it is necessary at all. I've always looked at it as another form of day-care. If she doesn't need daycare, and you don't need any extra free time, then I say skip it.

BTW, I've taught my girls here at home a little myself, and my oldest learned how to read a year ago. Not to say that it is necessary to learn to read at 3, but just making the point that you don't need preschool.

Also, it actually isn't even required that children go to kindergarten in VA- but I'd definitely suggest it!

Rebecca

Hi Jennifer,
My oldest (now 16) went to preschool 2 mornings a week when she was 3 and I didn't send her back after Christmas break because she didn't like going. She didn't go to a 4 year old prgram either. She went to kindergarden just fine.
My second didn't go until she was 4 and loved it, but cried everyday for the first month of kindergarden. My point is that each child is different, and you aren't committed to stay if she doesn't like it.
I think it is good to have them go some type of part-time program so they get classroom experience. Our schools (MD) now have all-day kindergarden. I think that would be a very hard transition if they aren't exposed to school routines in preschool. It isn't so much about the learning as it is about experiencing the environment.
I hope this helps,
Patty

If your daughter is responding well to you as a teacher, that's great news. I think you are far more effective than any preschool teacher would be. On the other hand, Kindergarten teachers, at least where I am, expect that the child has already been in some sort of preschool program and understands classroom rules, interacting with other children appropriately in a school setting, and are able to leave their parents without any problem. I have seen it both ways, kids that don't have preschool thriving in Kindergarten and those that don't understand because they've never been in a school setting, and then having a hard time adjusting.
Here is my best advice to you, don't send her to preschool at age 3, just continue to teach her at home, save your money. Then, at age 4, find a nice 3 day a week program that is a good fit for both of you. That way, she gets a school/social experience away from you, so she will be ready at 5 to head off to school! Good luck!

I personally say you need to evaluate your daughter's social skills. Aryan (my 2.5 year old) wouldn't let me out of his sight without having a FIT! I couldn't leave him without tears being shed and without horrible fits. So I thought it was great to put him in school. He already KNEW his alphabets, and colors, but they're teaching him things like independence (opening lunch box, going potty alone) and social skills (other children and how to behave around them.) I NEVER went to pre-school as a child and I turned out fine. And I'm sure Aryan would turn out fine too, but when I had Rheanna (my 6 month old) I knew that I needed time for her as well since I did lots of mommy and me time with Aryan. I wanted to give my second child the same advantage.

If you're really interested in sending her to daycare...then check out some "mom's morning out" programs that are usually put on by local churches. I think I pay 130 for two days a week, and that's the month rate. It gives me time with my daughter, while I know my son is learning skills that are necessary for school later on.

Good luck! It's ultimately your choice :) Just evaulate

Maybe you should look into enrolling her into daycare on half days basis. That would help her build on her social skills. I believe it will be beneficial for her social development as well as allow you to do other things. This may also help eliminate any issues with seperation anxiety in the future. Good luck!

I hate that everyone is so pressured into preschool now. My boys did one year, before they started K and they did preschool, not pre-K and they are both in the top of thier classes. The only benefit I see has to do with the social aspect. Othen than that, it's not required (yet) so do what you think is best for you and your family.

If you both are thriving at home and she is learning her alphabet etc...from you then I say why spend the money on preschool!?!? I put my girls in preschool because I found an inexpensive program thru a local high school and the social interaction would do them well! Play groups work too!!!

I don't think it's necessary at all. You can teach her skills simply by getting involved in playgroups/playdates. It's a shame that as a whole our society has lost the joys of playing outside with neighborhood kids to learn how to play and interact with others. But, there are other resources: church nursery, MOPS groups, playgroups, reading activities at the library or playtimes at the mall.

For classroom skills, consider a simple routine: being dressed and eaten by a certain time, learning certain things at certain times during the day, needing to sit still at reading time, an art time... maybe again: reading times at the library, art 'classes' at Michael's or something. Of course- lot's of playtime!! :-)

If you enjoy the time you're spending with your little one: then just maximize on your time together and enjoy it while it lasts. It passes all too quickly and then is gone for good.

You *can* do a great enough job preparing your beautiful daughter!

I hope this helps...