Preschooler already bored in school -- help!

[labdogs42]

My DS is 3.5 (he'll be 4 in February). He goes to a preschool program that meets 3x a week. They work on a letter every week and he asks me in the morning what letter they are working on today. He's fine when it is the first day of the week and it is a new letter, but by day three of the same letter, he's complaining that he wants to learn a NEW letter, not the same one they have been doing all week!

He already knows all of the letters by sight and he knows all of their sounds. I'm wondering what I can do to keep him interested in the lessons at school, or what I can do at home to make the letters more interesting. Or maybe I should ask the teacher if he can have some harder work to do? I'm a little lost on this, he's my only child. I want school to be fun and exciting, not boring already at age three!

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids loved preschool, because it was totally non-academic. All of mine knew their shapes, colors, numbers, letters, and letter sounds before even starting, so that would've bored them, too. I really wouldn't be asking for extra work in preschool, but I might look into finding a different one. One of kids ended up going to a Montessori school, very academic, and each child works on his or her level, regardless of age (there was a kindergarten program in the same class). Or maybe a learn-through-play program.

 

[AMVmom]

My oldest was just like that and she was labeled a "troublmaker" because she was bored. We started teaching her simple phonics and reading at home. I think it's great that he wants to learn and I would definitely use this opputunity to give him more challenging work!

 

[laughinplace199]

How much time per day do they spend working on letters? I would hope not that much. If the "letter time" isn't too long, maybe you can just remind your DS that there will be other fun things to do after they work on the letters. I would hope preschoolers are coloring, listening to stories, playing, learning to socialize, share, listen, etc.

My DD knew all of her letters, numbers, etc before she started preschool and she taught herself to read just as she was turning 4. She was never bored in preschool. They did have some academics, but they had a lot of play time too. She started preschool as a very shy 3 yr old and she "graduated" as a 4 yr old social butterfly. I think the reason she wasn't bored is because the school focused more on social skills than academic skills. IMO, they're still babies at 3 & 4 - no need to rush them along.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

My son had the same problem and just zoned out. Speak to the teacher (non-confrontational), s/he may be able to alter the work to make it a little more interesting...you may not be the only parent dealing with this. Is moving him to another class an option...either in the same school or change schools altogether? If you can keep him stimulated academically at home, I wouldn't worry too much if he is getting other benefits like socialization and life skills.

 

[labdogs42]

I really love his school and they do lots of other things besides the letters (play, snack, socialize, learn and sing songs, storytime...). I did try to stress that with DS this morning. I think the letter thing is more of a "theme" for the week. Mostly they color a picture of the letter, or do an art project of something that starts with the letter, or do show and tell about something with the letter. I don't get the impression that they are spending a ton of time on the letter, it just seems to be something my DS focuses on. He seems to think they should be learning MORE in school than they are. He's a quirky little kid! I will casually mention it to the teacher and see if she has any ideas.

 

[Kallista]

One of kids ended up going to a Montessori school, very academic, and each child works on his or her level, regardless of age (there was a kindergarten program in the same class). Or maybe a learn-through-play program.

Both my kids are in Montessori and they love it. They're allowed to choose their own areas of interest and work at their own pace. My oldest just graduated from a Primary class (preschoo/kindergarten) to a Lower Elementary class (1-3 graders). It's great for kids that are bored or restless in a regular class setting.

 

[labdogs42]

Both my kids are in Montessori and they love it. They're allowed to choose their own areas of interest and work at their own pace. My oldest just graduated from a Primary class (preschoo/kindergarten) to a Lower Elementary class (1-3 graders). It's great for kids that are bored or restless in a regular class setting.

I love that idea, but there is only one Montessouri school around here and the cost is out of my price range (at least it was the last time I checked).

I really do love his school and he had a blast today. I think he just likes to complain sometimes!

 

[crl]

We did walmart workbooks with DD as well as computer games at that age. We have chosen to homeschool so she can work at her own pace on things she is interested in. I don't know if that is an option for you.

 

[labdogs42]

We did walmart workbooks with DD as well as computer games at that age. We have chosen to homeschool so she can work at her own pace on things she is interested in. I don't know if that is an option for you.

I like the social aspect of preschool. I do have some of those workbooks at home. We have done a few pages, but maybe I should make a point to do them more often. Thanks for the idea!

 

[java]

He's 3- you don't want to burn him out either. Workbooks are fine if he is interested in them. But I wouldn't ask him to do it. I have some around for my older son and my 3 year old will do some of the letter ones. I don't suggest it= if he picks it up great.

Perhaps focus on what else he is doing that day. Like what was NEW. Did they sing a song? Did he draw something? Yes they may be working on the same letter all week- but I bet they do something different with it everyday.

Because my 6 year old started reading, my little guy wants to read. He will ask if these letters make a word. He also seems to enjoy making words with the magnet letters- SIMPLE words like No and On. He was so excited to figure out that just moving one letter changed the word.

Maybe what they are doing with the Letters is boring. Our school is using Letterland this year. (So far my son seems very interested.)

 

[Golden Rose]

We moved our 3.5 year old son from a traditional preschool to a Montesorri for some of the same reasons people have already mentioned. You know it is a bad sign when your child has already learned to say, "I can't go to school, I too sick!" before he is 4. Switching to the Montesorri was a big leap in cost (more than twice the price... ouch!), but he absolutely loves school again and I know we made the right choice.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Preschool is a good time for kids to start learning that they may not like everything they do in school. We have kids in my class who express their dismay when we do particular projects. It may be because they already know the material or because it's just not their favorite part of the day. We tell them that they need to just sit quietly and listen while the rest of the class completes the lesson. It's impossible for the teacher to do something different for kids at every level of learning. One letter a week is about the standard pace for preschoolers. Since your son seems to enjoy the other aspects of the class, I would just tell him to sit quietly during letter time and he can be assured that something else he likes will come along soon enough.

 

[mom2princessj]

His school sounds similar to my dd's however she never seems to be bored. She went into preschool last year knowing all of her letters, colors, shapes, numbers by site and sound however she still really LOVED/LOVES school. They have a letter of the week...do worksheets, writing, stories, show and tell, painting/arts/crafts based on the letter and theme of the week.

It may just be a boy thing where he's bored sitting but loves the other activites of school. My dd is in pre-k this year and I debated ALOT about putting my son in the same school (two day 3-4 year old class). However after having him visit and seeing him there I just didn't think it was the right fit. I have him in a school that is a mix of more social time with some worksheets, etc. It's a very good fit for him. He gets more play time (40 mins to my dd's 20) and the flow of the activities is much more suited for him. He goes in and plays for 40 mins, then circle time (he loves the songs), then snack. After snack he's ready to wind down for the last 30-40 mins of activities/storytime they do.

I really do think it makes a difference in each child to get them in the 'right' program for them. Maybe he needs something more challenging or maybe he needs more play/social time since he does already know all of the other things they are teaching. My son knows all his letters, colors, numbers too that's why i didn't mind sending him to somewhere that was more focused on socialization for this year. I don't know if chatting with the teacher will actually do anything to change the curriculum as I'm guessing he/she has other kids that maybe need this type of repetition (you wouldn't believe the amount of kids in my dd's pre-k that have NO letter, number, OR color recognition).

I do workbooks at home to challenge my dd along with site words. she LOVES them. If you think he wants to learn more I'd do computer education or workbooks. Good luck!

 

[brandylouwho]

That sounds like our preschool too...letter of the week (or occassionally a different the theme, like Christmas) with books, art projects, show and tell, practice writing the latter,etc that reinforce that letter. Oh and plenty of play time, including the large muscle room (little kids gym time).

Casually talking to the teacher is a good idea, she can give you her perspective of how she sees what your child is doing, learning, etc.

We started at a new preschool this fall (my kids had been in daycare prior to this) and my 4 year old said she didn't have any friends, only Maddie. I was a bit worried... but after talking to the teachers (and hanging around to see how she fit in the class) I was pleasantly surprised that my daughter was very social (maybe too social-she is a talker) and had plenty of friends. Maddie was the only name she could remember, so she was the only one she referred to as a friend. She also missed her old daycare friends. Not really the same social nightmare she had described "I have no friends."

So "School is boring" may not mean that he is bored every day, or it may mean the 20 minutes spent on letter time is boring (which, honestly, it would be useful for him to learn how to deal with that--he'll undoubtedly be bored sometimes in his life with things he must sit through), or it may mean he'd rather be playing with trains than going to school (who wouldn't?

OT, but slighlty related story : I was "bored" with the gazillion math problems my teacher gave out as busy work in 4th grade...and I got a big fat D when I refused to do them all ( I did usually get the ones I bothered to complete correct). While my mom was concerned and did talk with the teacher...that didn't change my D. That is the worst grade (pretty much the only bad grade) I ever got in my life. I remember it to this day (some 20+ years ago). But the lesson of completing what is assigned was a lesson my mom wanted me to learn. It seems like in today's world the "super" mom would have swooped in and demanded an evaluation and placement in a gifted program and blah blah blah because I was bored in 4th grade math. Now, as a mom myself, I can see that neither is really the completely correct or completely wrong solution.

 

[koolaidmoms]

I really do think it makes a difference in each child to get them in the 'right' program for them. Maybe he needs something more challenging or maybe he needs more play/social time since he does already know all of the other things they are teaching. My son knows all his letters, colors, numbers too that's why i didn't mind sending him to somewhere that was more focused on socialization for this year. I don't know if chatting with the teacher will actually do anything to change the curriculum as I'm guessing he/she has other kids that maybe need this type of repetition (you wouldn't believe the amount of kids in my dd's pre-k that have NO letter, number, OR color recognition).

I do workbooks at home to challenge my dd along with site words. she LOVES them. If you think he wants to learn more I'd do computer education or workbooks. Good luck!

My DS (5) just started kindergarten this year and is very similar. Talk to the teacher most are very good about finding ways to ramp up the levels for your child or offer some suggestions. My DS used to read the morning announcement about what they were doing every day, he would help count out the items for snack or crafts (12 stickers each or 8 crackers each) or give him time during free time to read, work on patterns and problem solving with blocks.

We do a great deal of reading to each other and he reads on his own. Computer programs, worksheets, baking, cooking and just finding out where his interests are and exploring them have worked for us. My son loves animals and nature. We are in FL this week and have talked about coral, fossils, shells, and how sand is made (just yesterday).

Hope this helps.

 

[labdogs42]

My DS (5) just started kindergarten this year and is very similar. Talk to the teacher most are very good about finding ways to ramp up the levels for your child or offer some suggestions. My DS used to read the morning announcement about what they were doing every day, he would help count out the items for snack or crafts (12 stickers each or 8 crackers each) or give him time during free time to read, work on patterns and problem solving with blocks.

We do a great deal of reading to each other and he reads on his own. Computer programs, worksheets, baking, cooking and just finding out where his interests are and exploring them have worked for us. My son loves animals and nature. We are in FL this week and have talked about coral, fossils, shells, and how sand is made (just yesterday).

Hope this helps.

That does help. That's what I was kind of thinking -- maybe he could help the teachers with some of the letter activities or something to make him feel more involved or something. He really does love school and he can be totally over dramatic, so I'm sure he isn't as "bored" as he'd like me to believe. I'm not as dumb as he thinks I am!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Is it possible that he doesn't want to do letter time because he has to sit and listen during that time and not be busy moving around? I know it sounds silly but a lot of kids (whether they know the material or not) don't like to sit for any period and "work" on something. They prefer the business of the big hands on stuff. Just a thought.

 

[princessmom29]

That does help. That's what I was kind of thinking -- maybe he could help the teachers with some of the letter activities or something to make him feel more involved or something. He really does love school and he can be totally over dramatic, so I'm sure he isn't as "bored" as he'd like me to believe. I'm not as dumb as he thinks I am!

Think you are probably right. I know my DD who is 5 now was guilty of the drama queen thing at 3 and 4 as much as now. I literally have to tell her to "get over it" sometimes!