Preschool or No Preschool...This Is My Question

Hey,
I worked at a pre-school/Daycare for 2 years and I think you are doing a great job! Keep it up!

It sounds like you are doing everything right so why change it. As long as he is getting to play with other kids his own age, I don't see what preschool can offer him that you can't.

My husband and I were both against the whole pre-school concept when our daughter was born. I am also a SAHM and both my husband and I constantly work with her and she is very bright and quick to learn so were so afraid of boredom. When we learned kindergarten would be all day by the time for her to begin was our turning point & we chose to put her in the 1/2 day pre-k program to help her adjust. Do not regret that decission as she LOVED it and is so pumped up for KG this year. It helps that her pre-k is in the same bldg as her KG so she got to meet all the teachers (esp. like library and music teachers that cover both grades) and already knows her way around which has built A LOT of security. Hope this helps as will be sending my son to pre-k without hesitation when it is his turn! (sniffle that they grow too quickly!)

I started going to preschool when I was three and I remember a lot of good memories from it. I was already reading and writing as well, and the teachers would give me 2nd and 3rd grade work to do while I was there. It was easy for me to go since my dad was teaching at the middle school, so I would go with him every day and I went for free. My sister didn't go and she has been just fine developing and performing in school, so I think you would be fine whichever way you go. I don't think it's necessary, but can be good for certain kids, if they are ready, which your son appears to be. So, I'd say whichever decision you choose, your son will do well. Good luck!

I've never found preschool to be necessary. My four children are brilliant in their own ways, and I feel that they learn so much more from real life experience than in a classroom setting. Especially ones so young. Being with mom and learning by her side is one of the best gifts to give a child.
I'd save the money and make your own fun field trips.

If I was you , I would join a home school group for per schooner that will give you another social out let and also another educational outlet. It would also allow you to put the money else where.

I only know one side of the equation, but I can give you my experience with that. All three of my children learned to read, write, and do math at home prior to starting Kindergarten. I decided I was going to lose them to school for the next 13 years anyway, and didn't want to make it 14 with preschool.

None of them had any problem at all socially when they started kindergarten, nor were they hesitant about starting. They were all very far above the other children, and in first grade the teachers would even have them tutor other students.

They are now 15, 19, and 20, and I have yet to hear from any of them that they missed the preschool experience! =)

It sounds as if your son is already well ahead of his age group. We also have chosen not to place our daughter in pre-k this year. Money was definately an issue. We decided to use some of what we would spend on schooling for season passes to the zoo and local museums. I also think that we, as a society, tend to make our children grow up too fast. If you have the ability to keep him at home and teach him, then you should enjoy that last bit of time with your son before he goes off to school next year. From what you wrote, you're already doing a great job.
J.

You have been homeschooling your son...have you considered continuing this? You have discovered that there are plenty of opportunities to socialize our children outside of a school setting. I have graduated 4 children from homeschool(K-12) and have 5 more from 2nd-11th grade. We are so glad that we've had this blessing and priviledge to be with our children and direct their education and environment.

Hi A.: I've worked most of my motherhood. I would have loved to stay home with my kids, but really didn't have that option available to me :) We did do preschool for my oldest and she loved it, my little boy is in full-time preschool and loves it. Everything is an experience, and unless you try it, you will never know if it's right for your family. If you have the opportunity to stay home with him then there is nothing wrong with keeping him home with you either. If I were you, I think I would try it for a couple of weeks, you don't have to do it permanently.

Hi, I enrolled my 3 year old in a 2 day a week preschool and it was the best decision. This year she will be in 4 year old class, 3 days a week. She absolutely LOVES it. Every day she comes home all bubbly and so proud of her projects. It has given her the opportunity to be her own little person with out Mommy and make her own friends. She is getting so much out of it, way more than I could have ever given her at home. If you can afford it now, I say go ahead and enroll him.

A.,

What I'm going to say here is largely my opinion so take it as that. I think the only kids that need preschool are the ones who have been raised in daycares or are in horrible home situations. If they have done nothing but watch TV or watch parental conflicts and whatnot, preschool is excellent because they'll need that basis to succeed in kindergarten.

However, if you have taught him as much as you say you have, preschool would be redundunt. My own 4-year old was reading well and prechool would have just been playtime and babysitting. We did send him to preschool but it was one that focused on academics. Even there he was bored and found ways to fill him time...usually by getting in trouble. Hindsight is always better than foresight but if I were to do it again I would have kept him home and homeschooled him. By the time he was in kindergarten he was reading at a 5th and 6th grade level!

Check the laws in your state...in Kansas you do not have to send your kids to school until they are seven.

K.

Preschool has alot to offer especially if you put your child in a very well taught preschool. I used a church preschool called "Trinty Montessori Day School" I had two of my children in the school and I just wished that I would of put my oldest in but at the time I didn't know it existed. I don't recemmend Head Start preschool programs I made that mistake with my first child but my two youngest have really grown stronger by being in my second choice. Don't get me wrong my first child is well educated & happens to be on honor roll everytime & is well behave but I really think the preschool you put your child does matter on their view of life,church,social life not only just for education but several areas of concern. The best thing is to sit down and discuss it with your husband and your child too and see what you want for your child and I believe your child will want to go. If anything its a new adventure that you & your child will experience together. Hugs!

I'd say there's an attitude in our culture that children not in preschool are socially deprived and educationally backward, when it's really not necessary for all kids to go to preschool. Neither my older sister nor myself went to preschool, but my younger sister did because she needed speech therapy and more practice in social situations. And while some kids do well in preschool and Head Start programs, the difference tends to disappear in elementary school, because the preschool programs tend to benefit those kids whose moms are not necessarily able to be with them all day, as you are. I'd say go with your best judgment, because you are the child's parent. :)

If he's already reading and writing, and has lots of opportunities to interact with other hids his age, and has no problem being away from you for a few hours at a time, there's nothing he will get at pre-school that he isn't already getting.

As you can see there are the pro and cons.
If he is interacting with other children his age I see no reason to send him to preschool.

Have you given thought as what he would do if some drastic happens where he will not be able to support himself.

A drip of $1000, would be at least $.5 mil so if you can affored it you may wish to put $2 K, $1 K each in two stocks.

Good Luck God BLess

The only reason we put my daughter in Mother's Day Out was for the social interaction. There were more little ppl there, than we were used to seeing around. She got a little more used to a schedule and being away from me for hours at a time. She had absolutely NO problems going into regular Kindergarten. She was so excited by the time she got there. My son went into daycare at 8 months b/c of my work situation and he has loved every minute of it, once you get past leaving in the morning. He loves all his friends and teachers, and the different things they get to do. (he's 18 months now) He gets excited every time they move him up to a new room. He also does better with diaper changes, mealtimes, and following directions since he's been at school. He thinks he can do whatever he wants at home, a little stubborn, so school is helping with that. Good luck.

Have you looked into pre-kindergarten programs in the public school systems. If your area has these programs available they are free in some areas. That is another alternative to preschool. Just a thought if you were thinking that precshool is important and need the money saving.

It sounds like he's already doing anything that would be taught at preschool. Save your money and enjoy your little boy before he's off to "big" school.

I am a former elementary school teacher and a mom of 4. If you have already taught your son so well, and he has opportunities for interactions with other kids, then I would strongly suggest that you SKIP preschool! It would be a serious waste of money! It sounds like you have done a fabulous job!

It sounds to me as if your little guy is already way ahead of many of his peers. He would probably enjoy the play time with others of his own age group but would be bored during the "school time" because of how much he can already do. Since you make sure he has socialization in many aspects of his life, I dont know if pre-school will help him much. It sounds like you are a very good hands-on kind of mom and should just keep him with you and get all the cuddle time you can.

I work full time, my husband stayed at home with our children. I think you need to look at your own kiddo's, my daughter was fine at home, is now in 7th grade and an honor student. My son ended up going to pre-school and for him it was wonderful. He is very active and athletic, he did well with the structure and playmates. If your child is doing well and interacts well with others socially as well as doing well academically...I say keep him at home, save your money, and enjoy...life gets busy quickly once school starts:)

From what you're saying, it doesn't sound like your son just NEEDS to go to preschool. It seems like you are doing a great job of exposing him to different situations, and he is thriving.

One benefit to doing preschool is that you would get a little more "me" time, which is always cool. ;) But you may already get enough of that for yourself through what you've been doing. If not, though, you could do a mother's-day-out program that should just be payable by the day, and thus a lot cheaper.

Wish I could have stayed home with my now 6yo DD and done the same thing! Great job, Mom! :)