Going to Kindergarten w/o preschool experience

[Tess]

I had one who went to Pre-K 4 at a cooperative preschool and one who did not attend any type of preschool. Both kids graduated valedictorians of their class and are doing well at the college level. The one who attended preschool is definitely more introverted while the other is much more outgoing. In fact, that is why we opted for a pre-K program--an effort to bring the introvert a bit out of the shell.

You can take it for what it is worth, but I have never been a big proponent for or against preschool. A child who works at home with his/her parents on the requisite academics, has outside social contact, etc. will be just fine in school without the benefit of a preschool experience.

 

[taximomfor4]

MY oldest dd and youngest dd went straight to preschool. I never even "worked with" either of them at home, no workbooks, no flashcards, NO lessons of any sort.

Both were "good students" right off the bat, both behavior-wise and grades-wise. They never struggled with the routines any more than the rest of the class.

My middle 2 children DID go to preschool before Kindergarten. Didn't notice any differences, really, in their adjustment.

I think there are certainly benefits to preschool, but any Kindergarten teacher has to "orient" the whole class to a school environment anyway, because there are always several children new to schools.

ETA: all of my kids spent SOME time without me...either in a home daycare while I worked (oldest dd) or at the Y in swim classes EXCEPT my youngest dd. She was always either in my care, dh's care, or grandma's care (occasionally). I definitely worried that she wouldn't do well away from a caretaker with no preparation, but she wanted to try KIndergarten and did perfectly fine.

 

[X and G's mom]

Neither of my kids went to Preschool. In WI (8 years ago) preschool was VERY expensive!
My DS13 is now in 7th grade and has been on the honor roll every quarter since starting Middle School. (His Elementary School didn't hand out grades, just Satisfactory, Minimal,and Basic.) When he started K he was at the bottom of the class and by the time early Oct and Parent teacher conferences were he was at the top of his class!
My DD11 is not as quick of a learner as my DS (she got that from her dad). She is doing fine, but it takes her a lot longer to do things.

Don't worry, everything will work out! Don't let someone make you feel bad, you did what you had to do! My DS has always had issues with wetting, he even has accidents at night still.....

 

[LuvLDM]

I think your Dd will be just fine!
As others have stated, kindergarten is less about academics, more about learning to function in a more structured environment.

 

[marcyinPA]

I think your Dd will be just fine!
As others have stated, kindergarten is less about academics, more about learning to function in a more structured environment.

I've found the opposite in our district. Kindergarten here is more like first grade used to be when I was a kid. Kids in kindergarten are reading, writing, etc. There is very little play-time, if any.

I would get your daughter into some situations over the summer where she needs to share, take turns, follow directions, sit for long periods of time and stay quiet, and be separated from you. The biggest difference I see between those who went to preschool and those who didn't are the social skills, and the ability to sit still in a group. Those are things that will be pretty much expected in Kindergarten that first week!

 

[Liberty Belle]

It sounds as if she's academically right on target. There will be some kids who can read well going into kindergarten (though not many) and some who can't write their name or recognize any letters.

Is she a "Mommy pleaser?" Does she like to do good for you? If so, she'll probably be fine. If she's a little spitfire, it might take a while for her to learn to follow classroom rules.

Also, how does she do with separation from you? That could also be a problem if she has not been to preschool.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I've found the opposite in our district. Kindergarten here is more like first grade used to be when I was a kid. Kids in kindergarten are reading, writing, etc. There is very little play-time, if any.

I would get your daughter into some situations over the summer where she needs to share, take turns, follow directions, sit for long periods of time and stay quiet, and be separated from you. The biggest difference I see between those who went to preschool and those who didn't are the social skills, and the ability to sit still in a group. Those are things that will be pretty much expected in Kindergarten that first week!

That is EXACTLY how it was where I student taught. They got about 15 mins playtime and then they would play for about 15 mins after lunch outside if the weather permitted. They had gym twice a week. They also had Spanish, art, music, computers 2xs a week, and library. By 1 they were DONE! I would notice they would start to get antsy, chatty, not pay attention as much as they may have in the morning. It was just a lot of work for them, by the time I left in December only 2 kids turned 6, so we had a rather young group. I kind of felt bad for them b/c it was a lot of work that they were doing. They would get 15 mins for snack as well and many times they were working and eating a snack.
I always thought many kindergartens really focused on the basic academic skills and social skills, but jeesh, I felt like I was at the Ivy League Kindergarten!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

It sounds as if she's academically right on target. There will be some kids who can read well going into kindergarten (though not many) and some who can't write their name or recognize any letters.

Is she a "Mommy pleaser?" Does she like to do good for you? If so, she'll probably be fine. If she's a little spitfire, it might take a while for her to learn to follow classroom rules.

Also, how does she do with separation from you? That could also be a problem if she has not been to preschool.

She is a mommy pleaser, she shares well with her cousins. I feel she will do well with stories b/c we read all the time and she does enjoy that (we are reading American Girl books) I am nervous about her sitting for lengthy periods of time doing actual work. One basic area she has trouble with is cutting, she really holds scissors funny, she is lefty (we're all righties) so I have a hard time trying to help her and show her to cut. Since she is newly 100% potty trained we'll also be working on her skills for taking care of herself (I usually help her) after she uses the bathroom.
For the past 4 years while I was in college she was left with my mom at night and she has always done well with that. But when I finished school in Dec she asked that I never leave her again and has been extremely attached since then, which was not like her at all, in 4 years she never acted that way. So, IDK what that is about.

 

[HelenePA]

She'll be fine... I bet her first day of school is harder on you than it is on her! I was really worried when Aidan (4) went for his first day... he's in all day preschool free at our public school! So from 7:45 til 4pm he is gone. He LOVED it, still does! I was in a panic most of the day thinking the worst. He can't do this alone he can't do that.. omg I didn't teach him how to do this.. He came home all smiles. Brought me his crafts they did for the day he was so proud of all the stuff he did! I bet it will be the same way for your DD! Just dont cry when you put her on the bus (or drop her off in the car) she'll pick up on those vibes. Put on your best show!

 

[java]

Cutting is one of the "pre-Kindergarten" tests they do. Does she have lefty scissors?? So that she can hold them properly
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