Preschool or No Preschool?

[meloneyb21]

Just curious. I'm sitting here researching some preschools for DD while also IMing with my best friend. I was telling her what I was doing and she goes off on this whole preschool is BS stuff and it really kinda shocked me. All about how you're charged $500 a month or more just so your kids can play when all they have to do go on playdates with your friends or family for free. I always thought preschool is there as a stepping stone to get the child more comfortable with other children and adults in a school-type setting before going straight to kindergarten. She has a daughter whose about to start 1st grade, and no, she never when to preschool, but I guess it's to each their own.

I'm new to this, a young parent with a just turned 3 y/o DD. I'm just now getting into the preschool thing.....so....I don't know. What are your opinions?

 

[janets]

I think for most kids, preschool is a wonderful opportunity to get away from mom and dad and meet new kids, learn about being in a classroom environment, learn social skills that they need down the road, and in most cases, start learning the basics they need for kindergarten and beyond.

I also think that it's an opportunity for a SAHM (since if you're a WOHM, you use daycare) to have a bit of time for herself (even if it's only 2 hours or so a couple of mornings a week) to get stuff done. Hey, don't get me wrong. We all love our kids but 24/7 can get to be a bit much!

Playdates are great, but most are conducted under the watchful eye of mom. Preschool can be a great stepping stone to the educational system.

It's an individual choice only you can make for you and your child.

 

[akmom]

Both of my kids went to pre-school. They were also in daycare though. I am really happy I sent both of them to pre-school. I think it helped get them used to a structured environment. They did more than just play. They learned their alphabet, colors, shapes, numbers, and sign language. Yes, you could teach them those things at home, but my kids really enjoyed being there and doing their projects and taking things for show and tell. DD felt very "cool" that she got to go to school.

 

[ilovejack02]

To each his own for sure! I didnt send DS to preschool to learn tons of stuff and be ahead of the pack when he hit kindergarten.. even though that was a plus lol. I sent him to help socialize him and to give me a break . DS LOVED being with the other kids and learned so much. It was a happy experience and I wouldnt change one thing. 500.00 a month well I guess every area is different in price range. Our tuition was 125.00 a month and it was WONDERFUL. A small little private Baptist school ( we are not Baptist). Only 11 kids to a class and it is one of the best schools in our small town. The waiting list is very long. We have GREAT schools all over our area from very high end to places I wouldnt send my dog lol. We do have schools in that price range and I have friends who send their kids there, but when it all boils down to it, our kids are all on the same learning level. My best friend ( who has a master in early education )sends her child to a Montessori that is about 565.00 a month and when she looks at what my 4 yr old is learning and what her 4 yr old is learning its pretty much on the same level.
Good luck with your decision , I know its hard.

 

[belle&beast]

I work in a preschool setting as a speech therapist and both of my children will have attended 3 years of preschool prior to entering kindergarten. This is not daycare or playdates. This is curriculum based preschool that is academically enriched with a strong emphasis on social skills that meets for 2.5 hrs for 2 or 3 days per week depending upon age. Preschool has offered my children an experience that I could not give them. I can teach my kids the academics at home- I have been working on reading with my DD. But she has learned how to handle peer interactions at school when I am not there to intervene. I have had a very positive experience and I think you need to research your options because you have to choose what is right for your child and family. Good luck!

 

[cl1067]

I WOTH Full time, but I still sent both of my girls to pre-school. They didn't (still don't) have any problems with socialization, but it taught them some valuable things. Besides working on colors, shapes, number, letters, etc. they learned other things, such as how to stand in line, raise your hand if you need to ask a question or want to say something. Also, they had some opportunities too...such as the day they let my oldest use a sissor...she was plenty old enough, but as a first time mom, I hadn't figured that out...LOL.

But in the end, she is your daughter and you need to do what you think is best.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Preschool director here-- For a three year old, preschool can be a fun learning experence that shows her that school and learning is fun. She can learn lots of social skills and start to reinforce or learn some of the basic kindergraten readiness skills. I however think that 4 year old preschool is very important. Because most children do go to preschool, they come to kindergarten ready to learn in a group setting. They know how to take turns and listen to an adult other than mom or a best friends mom. It is very different than a play date. You can certainly teach the skills they need for kindergarten at home, but they miss out on a great steping stone to kindergarten.
in our area most 3 year old programs are 3 morning a week and four year olds go 4 or 5 mornings week and cost is 100.00-150.00/mo.
I see no need for preschool if you plan to homeschool.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

Just curious. I'm sitting here researching some preschools for DD while also IMing with my best friend. I was telling her what I was doing and she goes off on this whole preschool is BS stuff and it really kinda shocked me. All about how you're charged $500 a month or more just so your kids can play when all they have to do go on playdates with your friends or family for free. I always thought preschool is there as a stepping stone to get the child more comfortable with other children and adults in a school-type setting before going straight to kindergarten. She has a daughter whose about to start 1st grade, and no, she never when to preschool, but I guess it's to each their own.

I'm new to this, a young parent with a just turned 3 y/o DD. I'm just now getting into the preschool thing.....so....I don't know. What are your opinions?

My DD's have been doing preschool from the age of two....I found that it is really making a difference in the both of them...My oldest daughter is four and she knows most of her letters and numbers...She can right her name and is working on the sounds of letters....My younger one is learning how to share, pay attention, numbers, and letters...It really is a wonderful structured program...
I am glad that I did preschool....My girls will be use to going to school when kindergarten starts....I am hoping for an easier transition in to kindergarten..
On another note....I did not go to preschool and I was no worse for the wear!

 

[MaryKLady]

My DD 3 1/2, only child, went to a program at our YMCA. Two days for two hours a week. It was great...meeting kids, class room enviroment, swim lessons, gym class, art, snack, positive adults and rules. It wasn't a fortune to send her and she loved it! She is sad right now because it is summer and only goes 1/2 hour for swim class now. It was worth it to us!

 

[meloneyb21]

To each his own for sure! I didnt send DS to preschool to learn tons of stuff and be ahead of the pack when he hit kindergarten.. even though that was a plus lol. I sent him to help socialize him and to give me a break . DS LOVED being with the other kids and learned so much. It was a happy experience and I wouldnt change one thing. 500.00 a month well I guess every area is different in price range. Our tuition was 125.00 a month and it was WONDERFUL. A small little private Baptist school ( we are not Baptist). Only 11 kids to a class and it is one of the best schools in our small town. The waiting list is very long. We have GREAT schools all over our area from very high end to places I wouldnt send my dog lol. We do have schools in that price range and I have friends who send their kids there, but when it all boils down to it, our kids are all on the same learning level. My best friend ( who has a master in early education )sends her child to a Montessori that is about 565.00 a month and when she looks at what my 4 yr old is learning and what her 4 yr old is learning its pretty much on the same level.
Good luck with your decision , I know its hard.

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! This place that I JUST called charges $125 a week.

 

[Mkrop]

Just curious. I'm sitting here researching some preschools for DD while also IMing with my best friend. I was telling her what I was doing and she goes off on this whole preschool is BS stuff and it really kinda shocked me. All about how you're charged $500 a month or more just so your kids can play when all they have to do go on playdates with your friends or family for free. I always thought preschool is there as a stepping stone to get the child more comfortable with other children and adults in a school-type setting before going straight to kindergarten. She has a daughter whose about to start 1st grade, and no, she never when to preschool, but I guess it's to each their own.

I'm new to this, a young parent with a just turned 3 y/o DD. I'm just now getting into the preschool thing.....so....I don't know. What are your opinions?

That is EXACTLY what it is. I am not sure if the city (Philly) is more expensive or if daycare is included in that but DS4 went for 3 morning a week from 9-11;30 for $156/month out in Chester County.

 

[Elmo888]

I think that it really depends. First of all $500 seems like a lot of money. I wouldn't be able to send my kids if the cost was that much. There are church programs where I live, and the price for 2 days a week, 9-2, is under $200. I think that I paid $220 for 3 days a week when my first DD was 4 (pre-k) which was 2 years ago.

Second, if you need the time and/or your child needs the outside stimulation, I would do it. This is really a factor of you and your child. Some moms are fine without the extended break, and some find that they really need it (even younger than 3).

Third, and here is what talked me into it, if the majority of kids in your area are in preschool, I would do it. I had a friend who wasn't going to do it, but when she realized that everyone in our small suburb does and she felt like she would be sending her kids to elementary school at a disadvantage, she sent her kids. Her arguement convinced me, too. With that in mind, I was definitely going to/will send my DDs to pre-k. I put my first in preschool as a 3 year old, but if she didn't like it, I would have pulled her out in a heartbeat. (She loved it.) To be honest, I met one SAHM who didn't put her kid in any sort of preschool before kindergarten. He's fine. Kindergarten repeats a lot of stuff from preschool in any case.

 

[jonesing]

We had always planned on sending our newly-minted Terrible Two year-old to preschool. Currently DW is a SAHM and we felt that he would need the social skills since (for now) he's an only child--as we both are. Turns out he's a social butterfly! Tossed him into the playland areas at the local malls and he will play with anyone who is nice to him! And for the one or two kids who get snitty when he comes to greet them, he just gives them a "What's your problem?" look and moves on to something else.

Before we moved we were planning on sending him to private school because the local district sucked big time. But this new area has some of the best schools in the state! And it's not just one or two schools...the district as a whole consistently scores in the top 5% of the state. Some of the schools operate like private academies and also have preschool programs at very low to no cost depending on enrollment.

 

[ChrisAlli]

Kids are expected to know a lot more now when they enter K. So I think pre-school is really important for that reason and many others. I know there are some pre-schools that are sort of a co-op. Where you come in twice a month to help the teacher and that keeps the cost down.

I would make sure you get references or a recommendation from your pediatrician or neighbors. There are a lot of places out there and you want to make sure it's a reputable place.

 

[GrowingUpDisney]

There is a difference in pre-SCHOOL and daycare. In pre-school they are LEARNING. My boys did a two day a week/half day program this past year and the learned so much more than I could have taught them at home. Now they are well equipped for kindergarten this fall. Maybe you could do part time like this. Also, part time is cheaper. We only paid $230 a month, for both of them!

Anyway, not everyone will agree with your decision whatever it may be. You have to do what you feel is best for your child. Good luck with your decision!

 

[thepeach80]

I think it's one of those things where 1) it depends on the child and 2) it really depends on the school. Yes, some pres-schools are nothing more than glorified daycare centers. AJ went to the YMCA this past school year (I work there) 2 days a week for 2.5hrs. He didn't learn much as he went in knowing all his colors, letters, etc, but he did learn how to listen to someone other than me, sitting at a table to listen, etc. He did learn a lot of fun songs though. The price for non-staff was $52 a month. The MFW class is the same amount of time, but set up for 4 and 5yos, so they learn a little more and do harder crafts etc. Instead of going back though, we are planning on sending him to the public school pre-K this year everyday for 1/2 days. I think it'll make a good stepping stone to all day K that next year. Evan could go to 2.5 yrs of preschool before going to K, but I'm not sure we'll send him in Jan or not. He's just not as eager to learn as AJ was/is. Good luck.

 

[Mkrop]

I want to comment on one more thing. Socialiazation is important but listening to someone other then mom or dad or other family is critical. Learing to sit quietly in circle time, waiting until everyone id done snack etc.

I was having a conversation with DS9's 3rd grade teacher and when I mentioned that DS4 receives PT and OT for gross and fine motor skills she said that they need to do more of that in preschool as well as that is very critical to the child as they get older for handwriting assignments etc, so dont discount what you child is learning when they fingerpaint, cut with scissors, color in the lines, or srunch up the tissue paper and paste it to make a lovely "floral" bouquet. They learn so much in preschool that prepares them for grade school!

 

[disneymomto5]

I am a firm believer in preschool. It isn't just for the learning aspect, although that's important, it's for the socialization, spending time away from Mom, learning to share, to sit still, to listen...etc. Plus, it saves my sanity! I wish preschool was year round. By the way, we go to a coop preschool and the cost is about $130 month for 3 mornings a week. You have to donate 2 weeks of volunteer time for that, but it's not bad at all.

 

[Ellester]

Going to give the other side of the coin here. My oldest went to two years of preschool and really loved it. She did learn quite a bit, academically and otherwise. I was shocked the day she (four at the time) asked me why she couldn't wear a midriff showing "belly shirt" to school when her friend could. I thought I'd have a few more years before I heard something along that line! She did thrive in the environment though. My second daughter went to the same preschool for one year. She cried EVERY SINGLE morning when I took her. The teachers assured me that she settled down and did well a few minutes after I left, but it was hard leaving my little girl crying for me every day. My son will have his preschool education at home, even though I could send him to pre-K for free in our state. We are now homeschooling for a variety of reasons and I see no reason to send him. He'd probably enjoy it, but he enjoys learning and playing at home too. He does know how to share, how to interact with other adults and children, how to listen to other adults, how to sit quietly, etc. I don't think you need a preschool to teach your children that. But, as several other posters have said, it is a personal decision. I just thought I'd throw the dissenting opinion out there.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

My oldest son, didn't go to any daycare or preschool, except for speech therapy when he was 3, he has a cleft lip and palate, started kindergaten right at 5.. My youngest also with a cleft lip and palate, among other delays, went to preschool at age 3, for speech and his delays, but no daycare. He went free, because of his special needs. They do alot with the kids. They had school pictures, a christmas concert, field trips. I feel I did what was right for my kids.