Re: Re: Which States Offer Preschool for All?

[Guest guest]

There has been studies done that show that children that attend preschool

have an advantage over children without the head start...You don't have to

agree

of course but I have requested alot of information on the internet at

educational sites and this is what my conclusion was.Of course, my child has a

disability but from what I read that it seems to have a positive effect on most

children.I guess there are people who do this for childcare...However, as the

Mother of a child with no siblings I think my child is getting great social

benefits early in life that will continue to affect him positively for having

gone

to preschool...I also have to admit while I have taught my child many

wonderful things I have no degree in early childhood education.Maybe some

children

don't NEED it, but that doesn't mean that there isn't any reason to consider it

....From what I've read most children are better off in the long run with some

preschool experience.

[Guest guest]

i totally understand what your saying but.....its a competitve world out there.

Its scary what they are teaching preschoolers these days. they are not even

suppose to know their letters until late in their 4's and to write their name by

kindergarden? its crazy. I feel that they (reg preschool) tries to make little

adults. but as a parent of typical girl (almost 2), i will sending her to

preschool

on the other hand I was a product daycare/preschool because my mom

worked(divorced) and I loved it, I still have memories of that school. I feel

that preschool is great socialization tool. society today does have mulitiple

children playing outside in neiborhoods(sp) anymore. everyone is too scared to

have their children play outside their property. soooo in comes preschools.

I am a big avocate of preschools as long as they are not too academic I feel

that they fun places to make friends and learn how to deal with a varitey of

people. oh yea and short days if they are not used for daycare.

its so sad that the idea of community is longer a priority for people, I do talk

to my neighbors but everyone is so guarded and suspicious that socialization

with kids and parents are not common practice. I wish i could change the times

and go back to the 50's(not that I would want where women were in those days but

you know what I mean, right?)

chris mom to smart,gorgous,apraxic, emma-my little butterfly

noaholiviaian <p.haselow@...> wrote:

I don't really understand the need for preschool if a child doesn't

have special needs (cognitive, emotional, poverty, etc). Is it a

way to get childcare so parents can work?

" Education " at that age should be in the home. That is just my

opinion, based on raising my 3 kids (#3 in preschool due to special

needs). Do studies really show that AVERAGE kids do better if you

start them in school by age 4? If not, why spend the tax money? I

assume when a state says it is 'available', it means it is funded by

tax dollars and not private pay.

Any other opinions?

Pam

[Guest guest]

This is a tough call, Pam.

Both of my older two were in Preschool prior to age 4. They started at 3. I

worked, but had a nanny at home until they were that age. They really thrived

on the ability to make friends and interact with kids. Yes, they were typically

developing children, no disabilities or other issues, but I do found that by the

time they got to kindergarten, they were a good deal ahead of their " stay at

home " friends. Both of my children were reading by the time they reached

kindergarten.

I do think there have been some studies done that show kids entering a preschool

environment prior to Kindergarten have less adjustment issues, etc., than their

" stay at home: " peers. I paid for the tuition myself, these were not state

funded schools or programs, nor were they paid for as an IU placement. It was

just my choice, as I worked 3 days of the week out of the home, and they

actually missed their friends on the Tuesdays and Thursdays that they did not

attend. They were in the program from 9 to 2, three days a week.

I'm sure there are those who feel that the education should be based at home,

but in all honesty, even if I was not a working mom, I think I would have sent

them to a preschool program at 3 or 4, just for the socialization aspect for

them. Both of my older children were very outgoing, and really thrived in a

child friendly preschool. With Jordan, my dyspraxic child, I started him with

baby gym classes at 9 months, with my intention of following the same plan I did

with my olders, although my hours were more evening based, and I didn't have the

need for the preschool as a daycare situation. He, too, enjoyed the

interaction, and by the age of 2.5, we had him in a preschool with the same

children he was in the baby gym with. His deficits didn't start to emerge until

around 3, when the language really never came in, and his sensory stuff went

into full bloom.

This is something that I think every parent feels personally about. With each

child being different, it's one of those " wait and see " kinds of things. Only

the mom really knows.

~karyn

[ ] Re: Which States Offer Preschool for All?

I don't really understand the need for preschool if a child doesn't

have special needs (cognitive, emotional, poverty, etc). Is it a

way to get childcare so parents can work?

" Education " at that age should be in the home. That is just my

opinion, based on raising my 3 kids (#3 in preschool due to special

needs). Do studies really show that AVERAGE kids do better if you

start them in school by age 4? If not, why spend the tax money? I

assume when a state says it is 'available', it means it is funded by

tax dollars and not private pay.

Any other opinions?

Pam

[Guest guest]

I wish I could take the credit, Pam, youre way too kind.

I had no idea my oldest could read, until one day the ice cream truck pulled up

and it was a different truck with a different driver, entirely new menu. He

stood there reading the menu to the other 3 1/2 year olds. All the moms stood

there in awe. I think I was just not realizing what happened, until he told me

that " this guys prices are too high. " Took me a while to realize he was

actually READING and not using sight words. He's just one of those that " knew "

before you even taught him, so I'm sure you are very right about preschool. The

middle one......dunno about her. She's definitely gonna like 's

daughters, although I haven't sprouted any grays YET, just a few more lines and

wrinkles that I'd like (at 46, guess they gotta start appearing sooner or

later!)

Hugs to your little guys! (and Olivia!)

~karyn

[ ] Re: Which States Offer Preschool for All?

You know what, Karyn, I think your kids would have been reading by

kindergarten even if you hadn't sent them to preschool. " Those

kids " who excell like that have an actual interest in learning to

read before the average child... I think you played a great role in

teaching them and fostering that desire. No amount of preschool

will teach a child to read before they are ready. I know kids who

spent all day in preschool, 5 days/week, that still didn't care to

know their alphabet letters by kindergarten. Their parents were so

frustrated but it wasn't what the kids wanted at that time. By the

end of Kgarten, they were up to speed. Not sure why. These kids

(boys and girls)were from good families with good incomes.

My kids were just like yours. Reading prior to Kgarten. I spent a

lot of time with them (after preschool) on letters and reading road

signs in the car because they wanted to do it!!! It was a day long

event in our house. I'll bet it was in yours, too.

You are right, it is a tough choice. Being a parent of both

obviously gifted and obviously challenged children, I wish I could

have it all.

Pam

> This is a tough call, Pam.

> Both of my older two were in Preschool prior to age 4. They

started at 3. I worked, but had a nanny at home until they were

that age. They really thrived on the ability to make friends and

interact with kids. Yes, they were typically developing children,

no disabilities or other issues, but I do found that by the time

they got to kindergarten, they were a good deal ahead of their " stay

at home " friends. Both of my children were reading by the time they

reached kindergarten.

>

> I do think there have been some studies done that show kids

entering a preschool environment prior to Kindergarten have less

adjustment issues, etc., than their " stay at home: " peers. I paid

for the tuition myself, these were not state funded schools or

programs, nor were they paid for as an IU placement. It was just my

choice, as I worked 3 days of the week out of the home, and they

actually missed their friends on the Tuesdays and Thursdays that

they did not attend. They were in the program from 9 to 2, three

days a week.

>

> I'm sure there are those who feel that the education should be

based at home, but in all honesty, even if I was not a working mom,

I think I would have sent them to a preschool program at 3 or 4,

just for the socialization aspect for them. Both of my older

children were very outgoing, and really thrived in a child friendly

preschool. With Jordan, my dyspraxic child, I started him with

baby gym classes at 9 months, with my intention of following the

same plan I did with my olders, although my hours were more evening

based, and I didn't have the need for the preschool as a daycare

situation. He, too, enjoyed the interaction, and by the age of 2.5,

we had him in a preschool with the same children he was in the baby

gym with. His deficits didn't start to emerge until around 3, when

the language really never came in, and his sensory stuff went into

full bloom.

>

> This is something that I think every parent feels personally

about. With each child being different, it's one of those " wait

and see " kinds of things. Only the mom really knows.