Pre school should I or should I not??

Michelle - posted on 04/13/2012

Preschool years are very important and formative to a child's development. Check out some informational articles here on preschool: http://www.examiner.com/preschools-1-in-...

Sarah - posted on 04/07/2010

I think preschool is an awesome thing to put children into. They learn how to play in big groups and it gets them outside of their home. I think it's not the healthiest to have them at home all the time. Also if the preschool is near the elementary school that she will be going to eventually then she might meet kids there that she will be going to elementary with. But I also think if you have her in dance or any other kind of sport that it wouldn't be bad to keep her at home with her babysitter. I have a daughter that is turning 4 years in Aug. and I will be putting her into preschool in September. I think you should go check out some preschools and ask for tours before you make your decision and go and see what it's like.

Tonya - posted on 04/05/2010

I was nervous about sending my son this year, but it's the best thing we could've done for him. Watching him has truly been like watching a flower open. He has become so social and he loves telling us all about his day and even asks how our day was. He's gotten to experience so much like field trips, his 1st school play, and even learning other cultures of his friends in class. It's only 3 half days a week but wow what a difference.

Alicia - posted on 03/17/2010

i was like u i didnt know if my daughter was ready for school and i finally put her in headstart on the last day it was to do it and she loves it riding the bus and al she knows her colors, numbers,her name she knew all her classmates names without their pictures on them even before they did and her teachers are telling she very smart for age and i was dreading about putting he in school she goes five days a week from 8 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon

Kelly - posted on 03/13/2010

Yes Yes Yes. Both of my children went to pre school. This is my daughter's 1st year in pre school and she loves it. She is a special need's child. I was reluctant to send her at first but finally agreed to send her 5 day's a week. Her social skills are 10 time's better and she has learned so much since starting. I think every child should go to pre-k. It get's them ready for kindergaden. Just take baby steps if your child isn't comfortable. maybe send her every other day to get her and yourself comfortable with it. you will notice a huge change in your daughter once she is in. I wish you luck!

Laura - posted on 03/12/2010

my daughter will turn 4 in november but I found an early headstart that would take her at the beginning of the school year in september and my daughter is very excited to go. but my daughter also is not in daycare and I want her to get the socializing that I kow she craves on a daily basis. So for me it would be pre-k even if I did have a private providor just for that reason alone kids love to interact with other children and they need it in the long run

Michelle - posted on 03/11/2010

You could start her off part time, my 3.5 yr old son loves it and asks to go to school on the weekends too....;o

Kristi - posted on 03/11/2010

i know what you mean about picking up undesireable traits-there is a 6yr old who comes over to play w/ my 3yr old because he is the only other boy in the neighboorhood. He has taught my son all sorts of unappropriate songs by icp and his favorite words are butt and fart.

Carol - posted on 03/11/2010

My daughter is 3. I have found preschool really helpful socially and academically. The teacher has helped spot some areas that Dani has been having problems that could be a problem for Kindergarten. She loves school. Now to keep that enthusiasm up another 14 years!

It has also helped with her potty training. The other kids are doing it so it provides her with incentive. She is not 100%, but I try to make sure she does her business before we go to school.

Catherine - posted on 03/10/2010

My Daughter is just under 3 1/2. I've had her in daycare a few days a week for about 2 yrs. It is good for interacting with other children, as I am the only one in my family with a young child, she didnt have any access to children when i first put her in. She enjoys going to "School" to see her friends. There are a lot of benefits to daycare, altho there are also some not so desirable traits they pick up.

Kristi - posted on 03/10/2010

pre k is a requirement where we live, but i think i would send my son anyway at least part time. it will give me a break from him and help him learn to function in a school-like enviroment. he is really looking forward to it too.

Kim - posted on 03/10/2010

I would send her. I am a stay at home Mom with a 3 year old and a 2 year old. Putting our son in Pre-School was the best decision ever. Shop around though to find what works best for your daughter. We chose a Parent Cooperative Pre-School which is great. We are involved as parents and are learning as much as he does, even if we are only a "working" parent two days a month in school. There are lots of choices....good luck!

Magali - posted on 03/10/2010

Hi Jamie, I don't think is right or wrong. I also like to have my son at home, but I could see he was very bored and asked to play with children. So I put him in a pre-school just for half day and guess what he loves it... When I go to fetch him, he says, mom can I stay a bit more... take you time and see what you child needs...

Cari - posted on 03/10/2010

I think that you need to do what is best for your family.

Sometimes sending your child to preschool can present unforeseen problems. For instance, if the preschool is only offered for a few hours a day (as many are) there may be transportation issues. Also, she will be exposed to new germs, so you may miss work a bit more at first. Fortunately, my husband is a stay-at-home dad, so these were not issues that we faced.

We chose to send our son at 3 yrs 3 months old. He had a slight speech delay because he was only around adults (he is an only child with cousins that live quite a distance away). He really needed the social interactions with children his own age and we couldn't afford daycare. Preschool here is free through the school, and he goes 4 hours 2 days a week, and next year will go 4 hours four days a week.

My husband spends a lot of time working with my son on many things, so when he started school the teachers were shocked at how well he could write his name, sing the alphabet, recognize all letters, etc. But now, they are absolutely amazed! His speech now surpasses many of his peers and he knows many things in sign language due to having a hearing impaired friend. His social skills are improving everyday, and they work very hard on having children understand what they are feeling and expressing the emotion appropriately.

In my opinion and from our experience, parents get very busy at home and sometimes forget to "teach" the basics. My son was still drinking from a sippy cup all the time, and, while offered, he rarely used utensils when he ate. It didn't even occur to us that this may be a problem. At school, they eat together twice a day, and my son never uses sippy cups now, usually uses utensils, and can serve himself, taking a little of everything!

Obviously, I could go on all day, but I hope this helps!

Brandi - posted on 03/09/2010

my son just turned 4 on the 3rd and my dauhter is 5 they both started preschool in september i was kinda holding back on it because they were always home with me but since i have put them in pre school i have been able to walk out of the room without my son following and able to leave him without him throwing fits. before he was pretty much attached to my hip and wouldnt talk to anyone now he has friends and plays with other kids he also has started headstart so he is learning more skills that i as a parent can not give him. my daughter would have been in kindergarten this year but her birthday was 11 days after the cut off i am glad though, she is smart but was very shy and didnt like to participate with other people or kids now she has come out of her shell. pre school/ headstart have been a blessing in social skills for my kids.

Heather - posted on 03/09/2010

Jamie I send my daughter to nursery school. she is in a half day program and loves going to see her friends and her teachers but I will tell you the decision has to be yours to make. I had a hard time letting her go and she loves it and wants to go everyday. They have taught her to regonize her name when it's written, colors, shapes and number but the social skills that she is getting are the best in the world and I'm very greatful for that.

Mary - posted on 03/08/2010

I would say give it a try. She will be in kindergarten in about another year. Preschool will just kind of prepare her for the atmosphere and maybe make some friends who will travel to the same school for kindergarten. Maybe even try pre-k for a half day or a few days during the week

Abbigail - posted on 03/08/2010

I'd say it's up to you. If your daughter is learning everything she will need in kindergarten already. Does she socialize well? That is one benefit to going, even if it is only for half a day and a couple days a week. Also they learn about listening to the teachers, taking turns listening and talking, getting along with others and how to resolve problems with others. All in all--no one can tell you what to do, every child is different and their needs and families needs are different. Do what feels right to you!!

Niquita - posted on 03/08/2010

My son will be 4 on July 1st and he has been going to pre-school for about 6 months now. He loves it! I think having him aorund other children has improved his social skills and his speech even. He use to studder a lot but it stopped after sending him to school. (I don't know if there is a real connection but its something I took into consideration.

I taught him at home before he started school. I taught him to spell his name, his colors, how to count, say his alphabet and begin forming his letters.

He tries to wipe but doesnt do such a good job so I go behind him and finish it lol.

Chantell - posted on 03/08/2010

i wanted to my boy turns 4 in april he is doing 2 days in day care also doesn't wipe himself properly pre k teachers can teach a lot more than a private sitter, it is really how you prefer her to learn an kinda she will see other kids going to the toilet and pick it up very quick because she won't want to be the 1 that cant do it, my other boy is now almost 6 and went to pre k still drinking a bottle and in a nappy and in 2 mths both were gone :)

Michelle - posted on 03/07/2010

I'd definitely recommend Pre-K, for socialization, and may other skills that she will pick up to prepare herself for entering Kindergarten. I've heard so many Kindergarten teachers comment on how they can tell who has and has not been through a Pre-K program and how muchmore prepared those were who had gone through a Pre-K program. I'd suggest a 3 day a week program. That way she can still be with the sitter who she is comfortable with a couple days a week, but also be prepared for K by attending a Pre-K class 3 days a week.

Jessica - posted on 03/07/2010

We are putting our son into the public school pre-k program. He's been with me since he was born (with the exception of the yr he was in daycare when I worked) and really needs to get out of the house LOL. He's so friendly and had friends in our neighborhood but I'm sure he'll benefit alot from going to school. Plus I think it will prepare him for Kinder.

Emili - posted on 03/07/2010

my oldest daughter went to preschool and my second one did not. my second daughter has a little harder time now that she is in kindergarten than the oldest one did. and my son turned 4 in january and has been going to preschool from 8-12 since august. i think it helps them a lot to learn what they need for kindergarten, such as: waiting in line, raising their hand to speak, staying in their seat when they need to, etc. i would say send her to pre-k. it will help her sooooooo much for kindergarten.

Rhonda - posted on 03/07/2010

she will learn more social skills and learn to share etc ar pre-school. Try it, if you find you/she doesnt like it, bring her out

Brandy - posted on 03/07/2010

since she has a summer birthday I HIGHLY recommend pre school. My daughter also has a summer birthday and I am putting her in pre school. They don't just learn shapes and numbers, they learn structure. How to stand in line, how to wait their turn, those types of things.

Ronda - posted on 03/06/2010

I chose to teach my children at home and send them to pre-school at age 3. I find that they get a double learning environment. At home for one-on-one, and at school with their peers. It also gives a sense of independence and routine of being away from Mommy!

Theresa - posted on 03/06/2010

My daugher will be 4 in a week and she is going to pre-k in the fall-she already goes to sunday school on sunday, but cannot wait to go to "real" school. we work with her at home because she has an older sister in kindergarten, she has picked up a lot already like holding a pencil properly and recognizing numbers and letters. she wants to start this summer so that she can meet new friends..I think you have to go with what your daughter is comfortable with...good luck-Theresa

Annamarie - posted on 03/05/2010

I put my daughter in pre-school at age 3, and she has learned, developed and done wonderfully. We put her in school at 3, because she has a 1 year old sister--honestly she just needed some space from her and some socialization. It has worked out wonderfully.

Nikki - posted on 03/05/2010

My daughter who is 3 1/2 just started preschool a few weeks ago. She loves it. She's getting the social interaction that she needs, and she's learning to listen to someone other then myself. It will help her so much before Kindergarten i'm sure. I'm all for preschool!

Ashita - posted on 03/05/2010

My son is going in playgroup since he was 22 months. for 2 hrs a day it was a good option for him to mingle with other kids n be in habit of leaving home for that much time. He does enjoy going now more as he's got friends. as i din't have the option of a baby sitter, I thot this was the best.

Jody - posted on 03/05/2010

My huband passed away june 18 2008 and for a year I kept my son at home because I was grieving and thought need to keep my son close to me at all times. But I found out that he needed the social inteaction with other kids! when I took him to the play areas at Mc D's & BK. I regret not putting him in Pre k 2 . He has become such a good little boy, learning so much in school ! I just love to listen to all the stories he has to tell me every day when I pick him up ! Parents miss out too when they decide to selfish like that.

Belinda - posted on 03/04/2010

Exactly, she's being selfish by NOT letting her children experience something that is only going to benefit them in the long term, all because "she'll miss out"!

Jody - posted on 03/04/2010

Hmm, if you had read the thread PROPERLY, you would have seen that I was talking about the other KIDS in the school, not teachers. It does a lot to kids when other kids make fun of them. If people dont put their kids in an environment where they can earn more than just what they learn at home (face it, no parent can teach EVERYTHING that a kid needs to know/learn). Those children who are kept at home are living sheltered and won't get the chance to experience certain things until later. And to other children, these kids will appear "slow". Parents need to suck it up and let go of the kids...they are going to grow up .......

Kelly - posted on 03/03/2010

My 17 year old went to pre school when she was three and she thrived and did beautifully. I started my 3.5 year old last September and it was a nightmare. She wasn't socially ready and she went haywire. I pulled her out in February and her behavior has improved dramatically. We will try again in September but if it doesn't work out I will pull her out again. My kids are proof that every kid is different. Yes, pre school is important but don't feel pressured to put your child in. It will NOT make them dumb for the rest of their lives if you choose not to send them. And if it was so imperative that you send them why is it not mandatory? Talk to the kindergarten teacher where your child will be attending and see what they say, they will definitely assure you that your child will NOT be dumb just because you choose to opt them out of pre school.

Jody - posted on 03/01/2010

The longer you keep your children at home, the longer it will take them to learn in school. They learn such valuable things in school. It prepares them for actual SCHOOL. So, dont be blaming anyone else but yourself when your kids come home from school every day in the future and ask "Mommy, why do the other kids call me dumb?" Because it will happen. I am not trying to be mean, but you know how kids can and will be. Just save your kids the heartache and go ahead and send them.

Rebecca - posted on 03/01/2010

my daughter will be 4 in October and she's been in full time daycare since the beginning of last year. she enjoys it thoroughly -- but then we are very happy with the school -- our older daughter also went there until she started grade 1 this year. my advice would be to really check out the schools in your neighbourhood -- see what they have on offer in terms of if you like the teachers, their approach, class sizes, activities they do, etc etc then make a decision from there.

Belinda - posted on 02/28/2010

I think that's a little selfish. You want them home with you so you don't miss out. What about what the kids are missing out on?

My 3.5yr old started pre-school 3 weeks ago and absolutley loves it. He gets to play with kids his own age which, even though he is a very social little boy, teaches him about how to interract with other kids. He learns not to snatch toys from them, or hit/bite/throw sand at them etc. All these things I can't do at home because it's just us. Also, he has only just started using the potty, which up until 3 weeks ago he was too scared to do. Going to pre-school and watching all the other kids using the toilet made him realise he is a big boy too, and that big boys don't wear nappies anymore.

Apart from all the benefits pre-school offers socially, it also exposes the children to different germs, which build their immune systems.

Here in Australia, there's a legislation that states all 4 year olds must attend pre-school at least 1 day a week. I guess this is so they aren't thrown in the deep end when they do start Kindergarten (big school).

Podie - posted on 02/28/2010

Because I want them home for as long as possible. I believe that the early years are when you have the most impact on what your child believes, learns, how they act, etc and since I am able to stay at home with them I want to give them the best (in my opinion) foundation/start possible. They are going to have enough other influences when they get into school and I want to delay that as long as possible. In other words, make sure they know how to swim before I throw them in the pool. Its just the way I see it.

Wendy - posted on 02/28/2010

why not send her? She will learn things and have other kids to socialize with and its great for her. If she doesn't like it keep her home. But she will have to go eventually so why not now?

Podie - posted on 02/28/2010

I guess I am going to be the only way who disagrees so far. My daughter will be 4 in July and I am not going to send her to pre-K. She is learning alot from me and his hanging out with her younger sister. Soon enough she will have to go to school and I will never have this time back. (I am a stay at home mom). School is going to last for at 13 yrs (k-12th) plus college (at least 4). When is she ever going to just be a kid who gets to run around the house and play? I am keeping both my girls home till the state says I have to send them (Kindergarten). But thats just what I think. They are both very social and we do fun things together. A friend of mine sent her child and it didn't go well... her child's attitude got very bad. I guess it just depends on the child. Good Luck!!

Kay - posted on 02/26/2010

my elest daughter (4 in May) started 2 days of preschool this year & absolutely loves it! she also attends day care for 2 days a week, which has a 'preschool' room, but I wanted her to experience a different environment - school based rather than long day care & meet new people, especially as most of the children who attend her preschool will attend her big school. The preschool allows her to be more independent in readiness for school, they need to be able to toilet themselves, they take their own lunchboxes (whereas at daycare their food is dished up to them) etc. My daughter has always been quite a social little girl & I encourage this as much as possible, its so good for their self confidence.

Kaci - posted on 02/26/2010

my son is three right now and will be 4 in october. i could send him to pre-school this year but have decided not to just because he would be in pre-school for two years before kindergarten. so just because of money he will wait until next year for pre-school. he knows a lot of things..he learned it in daycare. plus he isn't potty trained yet so we need to work on that before he goes to school

Alison - posted on 02/18/2010

My daughter started preschool when she turned 3. She loves it and she is learning so much. Not just numbers and letters, but following directions, working with a group, following routines and other things that I just couldn't do for her at home. She is only in school 2.5 hrs a day 4 days per week.

Jacki - posted on 02/16/2010

You could always do a mother's day out type thing. That's what my son is doing. They have a 4 year old room that gets the kids ready for school, and it's only twice a week for no more then 5 hours.

Jody - posted on 02/16/2010

I put my 3 y/o (almost 4 now) in pre-k 3 in September....and he absolutely loves it !!!! He goes 3 days a week....Wakes up every day asking when he gets go back to school. He has improved so much with learning abcs, colors, manners, socialization with the other kids (which he loves all his classmates!), I wish I had put him in last year. It also helps that they put him the 4 y/o class because they had to combn classes becasue of low enrollment! Send your child ! She will miss out on so many experiences...big or small....that she just doesnt get at home !!!!!!!!

Sheena - posted on 02/13/2010

we put our daughter in pre-k last septtember 3 days a week and she loves it...she was in daycare from 10 months old and school was a bit of a transition but we are glad we put her in it...

Emily - posted on 02/13/2010

As a teacher, I actually think it's a good idea to send your child to preschool. My son will be 4 in October and I plan to send him 3 days/week. I think it's important for them socially and it's a wonderful time for them to get some play based learning before starting kinder. You could always send her a couple of days/week and stay with the sitter part of the week. Good luck!

Wendy - posted on 02/13/2010

My daughter will be 4 in October I ABSOLUTELY will send her. I have a 6 year old that started pre-school when he was 3 and it was great! My kids are both very social and they were potty trained early, but I would highly recommend it for all little ones. You will see a huge improvement. It may be harder on you than it is on the kids! Be tough, it will be good for her!

Emma - posted on 02/12/2010

my daughtr started school and she loves it u cud always take her and if u think shes not ready ucan pull her out of chool thats wat a froiend of mine did! just try it ou if she doesnt feel redy then stick wit the sitter 4 now!!!

Ellen - posted on 02/12/2010

I am a stay at home mom and my son just began preschool this year. It has taught him things beyond colors and shapes. He has grown socially with other children and learned to respect their emotions. Things I find harder to teach without other children around.