Does your child NEED a pre-school?
I would never advocate a parent sending a child blindly off to kindergarten without having tackled anything academic.
Apparently, many people agree with me. I am constantly seeing first time parents online concerned about preschools for their children. Sometimes they ask recommendations for a preschool. Sometimes they are even looking for a curriculum or online school!
An online preschool? Yes, that’s what I currently see young parents asking. For the record, I would not recommend that nor see it as necessary.
With that in mind, I’d like to address a few of their questions and concerns. Perhaps you’re one of the parents wondering.
I’ve had three children over the span of six and half years. My oldest child attended a two day and three day preschool for two years respectively. This was primarily because I was working full time. When the next child was preschool age, I allowed him to go to a 2 day preschool more like a mother’s day out. I did this to allow him some special time with friends, but also because I worked part time tutoring and homeschooling my oldest. This only lasted a semester, as I soon realized I’d rather keep my money each month rather than to have a very short day where I’m making a drop-off and pick-up trip to the same place. The third child? I didn’t even bother. By then, it was clear it just was not “needed.”
The valuable skills learned in preschool can be learned at home (all academics and arts) and in other situations parents provide, such as play-dates or church (social, play). It usually comes down to what a parent can afford and what a parent needs in terms of childcare.
For both preschools I used, I personally knew people working there whom I had known since before my children attending. I urge you to thoroughly check out any place you send your child.
Do these things at home, and you won’t need preschool:
Read and talk to your child.
Play simple games taking turns with your child (use this opportunity for not only board games but also physical games using a ball, rope, or balancing).
Practice instructions and clean up with your child.
Allow your child to color and color WITH your child (some aren’t interested at first, so print off pictures of what they like).
Sing with your child (especially learning songs with days of the week, months, counting, and anything that rhymes)
Play the alphabet letters (use tangible items like foam or magnetic letters), say the names and initial sounds.
Memorize basic safety information like names, address, stranger safety, etc.
Allow your child to cut and paste and sort items (with supervision).
Encourage pretend with dress up or making dolls or stuffed animals (or cars or trains) talk.
You don’t need an online program to do any of the above. You do need time with your child. I can say that even if you work outside the home full time, you can make these items a priority. I did. When I did, he knew the academic skills before they taught them in preschool.
I did enjoy tackling these various skills while staying at home and not working outside the home full time. The skills fell more naturally in line with what we were doing throughout the day. I kept crayons handy, ink in my printer, and plenty of paper on hand. I was more relaxed (from not working full time) and able to pick up toys and play, demonstrating the skills above. We sang learning songs and played them in the bedroom at night as well. ABCs were exciting to learn and point out in the environment on signs, boxes, and menus. We met friends in play groups, homeschool co-ops, and at church (two out of three of those were at no extra financial cost).
You know your own situation and what your finances and time schedule look like. I would say that a child at home with an involved parent will learn more. But, I will also say that I understand if you choose a day or two out of the week to allow your child to have special time for fun with some friends while you knock out a few errands. Choose carefully and know the teachers personally—just like you would investigate a babysitter.
Experienced parents, what have you chosen to do for preschool years? Have you tried a little here and there like I did? Did you have any regrets or success stories?
Leave a comment for everyone to read and share this post with a friend!
You can watch some more Preschool ideas on The Parent Teacher Bridge YouTube channel as well.