My son currently goes to a very good daycare which also has a separate preschool program. My question is, would he really benefit any more if I enrolled him in the preschool in addition to the daycare? His daycare is structured, circle time when they read a story and do the calendar (months and days of the week), art time, outside time, he's learned his colors, shapes, ABC's, how to recognize his name, spell his name, daily art projects, etc. Is this much more than they'd do in the preschool? He currently goes to daycare (3) 5 hour days/week and I'm thinking of either changing that to (5) days a week or adding (3) days of 2.5 hours of preschool. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I am going to enroll him to go the 5 days/week of the daycare. After reading everyone's responses I think he's just as far along as any other child in preschool at his age. WE had conferences last night and the teachers say he is progressing extremely well. I might consider preschool still, only for the reasons some of you have stated, to get him use to another environment. thanks again for everyone's input
Quote:"It is nothing but playtime, nothing academic happens there at all."
Don't discount the value of play time. Authorities recommend a balance of play time and academics.
One article on the subject: http://stress.about.com/od/parentingskills/a/play.htm
I have 2 children ages 4 & 5. I had my children in daycare 2 days a week from 4 months on. My son went to a preschool 2 days a week in a church and it was SO WONDERFUL! He loved it and learned alot. They had letter worksheets, writing projects, reading homework, challenging but fun activities.(the daycare they had also had a preschool program)
Then we moved and dropped daycare all together. My daughter now goes 4 days a week to preschool and it is terrible. It is nothing but playtime, nothing achedemic happens there at all. This is also the preschool for the school district. I am so dissapointed in what she has not learned there, she will now be going to kindergarten and we know already that she will be repeating kindergarten. They did more at her daycare preschool than they did at the school district preschool. They say that the focus is learning social skills in preschool, but I believe that they should also learn colors, shapes, phonics, letters, writing basics etc. I have spoken to other moms who are also dissapionted.
Sorry I am getting long winded....long story short IF you find a great preschool it is a wonderful idea. I sent my son the other days he was not at daycare and he grew so much that year. the key is to find a great preschool they are a different envirnoment than a daycare and they will learn what to expect from school. I would very much go for the preschool, just make sure it is the best one that focuses on something other than play.
Good luck~ sorry so long!
Hi I do not think that it is neccesary to do a seperate preschool as he is learning the same thing in the day care setting. T.
As a Preschool Educator I belive your son is getting everything he needs at your daycare. The only benefit to moving him would be that he would get to make many new friends and learn to get along with a whole new group of children like he will when he goes to school. If he is already recognizing his name, knows basic shapes, colors, etc. He is ready to go into Kindergarten. Adding the fifth day a week would be a good idea, as it will get him used to the five day a week routine of Kindergarten. As an educator I do believe that preschool is meant to be more social than academic. I would ask if the preschool maybe does different themes than the daycare beacuse then he would be learning so much more about the world around him, and not just academic ABC, 123, which is what preschool should be all about. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at ____@____.com
T.
I would talk to your daycare place and ask them what (if any) additional education your child would receive at their preschool. It sounds like he is already getting pretty much what my son is getting at his preschool. If there is a cost difference I'd weigh that as well. Is the separate preschool for parents who just want to enroll their kids in preschool and not daycare?
If he's already in daycare then I'd leave it at that. My daughter has been in both worlds daycare and preschool but not at the same time. All preschool really is, is seperating from the parents, learning how to behave and interract with peers and in a classroom setting, learning to be independant using the bathroom, washing one's hands by themselves.Preschool does story time and arts and crafts etc.etc.. I assumed my daughter would get alot of education and learn alot at preschool and I was kinda disapointed. It definately helped my daughter be ready for Kindergarten and interact with her peers but she didn't learn much. The teachers went over letters and colors etc. but mostly she learned from what I taught her. Writing her letters, her name and memorizing colors etc. she got at home or probaly would have never learned them. So I really really think your son will be just fine at daycare and you'd be wasting your money to add on preschool.
I have worked in a daycare that also runs preschool. There is generally a big difference between the daycare and the preschool. Preschool is a much more structured enviroment and I have found that the children do learn more from the preschool than just regular daycare. Don't get me wrong they teach a lot of things in daycare as well I guess it just depends on the program. I wouldn't send my child more than necessary, but maybe try adding the preschool on the days he already goes. You can always take him out of preschool if it doesn't seem to be making a difference. I see you live in Janesville and was curious what daycare/preschool you are taking your son to. Private message me if you'd like. I've worked a few daycares in Janesville.
My daughter is in headstart preschool and it seems as though your son is learning the exact same things she is. Alot of preschools are 2 or 3 days a week for 3-4 hrs so I would say he is doing just time with the time he has. If he has learned all that already don't worry about it. He is learning everything my daughter is learning in preschool. Just remember that when we were kids we did not have to learn all this in preschool and don't push him too hard to learn everything just let him have fun and be a kid. I think 90% of schools are jumping the gun making kids learn everything way too early.
I need to say, first of all, I am not a preschool educator (in fact, I'm not an educator at all).
I have to respectfully disagree with Beth. I think there is significant evidence that a preschool program is extremely beneficial. Preschool programs have been found to be associated with higher IQ scores, better school achievement, lower rates of grade retention and special education placement, and lower rates of delinquency. These outcomes are known predictors of school completion. Preschool programs are likely to have effects on school completion through the effects on these and other predictors. I think supplementing a decent daycare at home is wonderful, but, again, the evidence suggests that a structured preschool program provides a multitude of positive things for early childhood.
That being said, I think there are ways to teach your child what they need to know to be prepared for elementary school, however, extensive research and time would be necessary. There is a reason most preschool teachers have degrees in early childhood development.
I'm faced with the same decision as you. After reading what the others wrote and knowing that my child is getting just about everything a preschool would offer I'm keeping my child in daycare until 1st grade. She does the circle time, goes outside, counts the calendar, says a prayer before eating, they have to share, pick up after themselves, they do art projects daily, they read, she is teaching my 2 year old how to spell her name, etc. If your daycare is structured and does similiar activities to preschool then you could just keep you child in the daycare. If you want you kid to be in a school setting then maybe you'd want to do the preschool. I was considering the pre-preschool due to my daughters age but I think I'm going to hold off. Great question and good luck to you.
K.,
It sounds like the daycare he already goes to has a pre-school cirriculum, which is great! Increasing his time there could not hurt, only prepare him for "regular" school. I would have to disagree with Jeanne. I honestly do not feel that where your child gets their early education (daycare, preschool, pre-kindergarten reflects on future truancy, attendance or performance in school. My oldest son did not go to pre-school, only daycare and they had the same types of activities. My son is now in 7th grade, in two accelerated classes and gets straight A's. I'm sure your son will do just fine without attending an actual pre-school. They do run a 4-yr old half-day kindergarten program through Racine Unified, so you could look into that if you wanted to prep him for more of a school environment.
As a kindergarten teacher, my advice would be that you know your child best and you know what he needs. It sounds like you are happy with his daycare and feel that it is giving him a good foundation for future schooling. It's important to remember to do what is best for your child right now and not think too much about preparing him for what is to come. That will happen naturally.
