preschool at 2 really necessary?

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Registered: 03-27-2003
preschool at 2 really necessary?
7
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 10:49am
Hi everyone! Lurker here - it's hard to get on the boards much since I have a DD that will be 3 in June and a 3 month old DS. Have a question - all the moms in my playgroup are sending their 2 yr olds to preschool already. I don't think my DD is ready for it, and I don't think I want to spend the $$ anyway, being a SAHM. I wasn't going to send her until she's 4 and she'll be 100% potty trained by then, anyway. What do you think? I never went to preschool, just kindergarten, and I turned out ok!
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Registered: 12-11-2003
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 11:10am
You know that is a very good question. My daughter is 8 months old and I was wondering when to send her. I can not believe that I am worried about this already, but it seems as if parents are sending their children to school around at least 3. I think that a child will be at a disadvantage now if they didnt go before kindergarten since most children these days are. So good question, what age do you send your child to school?

Marsha

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-12-2003
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 11:40am
We have 3 wonderful sons and a daughter on the way. We sent our oldest to preschool at 3 for half a day and it was a nightmare...he was not ready emotionally to be away from Mom. So we took him out and waited. Our Church at the time had a Pre-K program, so at age 4 we tried again with great success. He was emotionally ready and he learned a lot. He was really prepared for 1st grade. We tried our middle son at age 3 with the same experience..he cried everyday. It was horrible. He did not start school until 5, but he already had many skills that WE had taught him so he did just as well. Our 3rd son was three in Nov and we will not send him to a 3 year old program. The public school system here offers a voluntary Pre-K program for 4 year olds. I think he should be ready by then. I think we should keep our precious ones at home as long as possible. Emotionally, I think they fare better at home with Mom. By 4, most children are completely potty trained and can verbalize their needs and concerns very well. Why rush them into "big" school if we don't have to?

Cindy

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Registered: 09-15-2003
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 12:53pm
Hi!

I was wondering the same thing. Then I was completely shocked to find out that pre-school costs money! (I know, I know, I must seem like the dumbest mom in the world, but I was never really around kids or people with kids till I had my own...so lots of things are coming as a surprise).

Anyway, I live in Michigan and even the 1/2 day 2 or 3 times a week programs can cost between $400 and $500 a month! That's a lot! I figure that I can teach her here at home and maybe take her to a more structured program when she is about 4. I agree that the completed potty training should be a goal first. I've heard that a lot of back-sliding can occur when they babies are shipped off to school too early.

Personally, I also think that moms who send the kids at 2 just want a break and use the excuse that it's good for the kids.

Just my thoughts.

Melissa
Meldi
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Registered: 10-21-2003
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 12:57pm
I wouldn't say that preschool is necessary especially at 2; but after saying that, I sent my DD to preschool (3 mornings a week for 2 hrs) when she was 3. She was an only child (at the time, now has a little brother) and was the only child in my sphere of family and friends. We also had other issues to deal with, but I digress. I didn't send her to LEARN perse, I sent her to get used to other kids being around and all the social issues out there. At 4 she went 3 days a week- for what would be a full school day. She tires very easily and I felt she needed to build up her stamina for BIG kid school. So I'd say that if your child is getting the social skills by having friends around (playdates etc.) and you feel you are helping her learn the pre-basics then keep her home. I sometimes wonder WHY parents feel it's important to send their children into structured routines by the age of 2. I'm almost 32 and I turned out fine, just by going to regular school and playing outside!?KWIM? Good luck trying to decide! Oh and when my DS is older he won't be doing preschool until at least 4 yrs, being a January baby he won't start school until almost 6 anyway. He has a lot of friends his age and they can learn together at home. Shelley
Avatar for colejbmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 1:15pm
Funny- I was just talking to my aunt last night who is a kindergarten teacher and she said not to teach DS anything before he goes to school.

Well she wasn't REALLY serious but her point was that all of the kids in her class are bored. She says she looks down and there are 4 and 5 year olds rolling their eyes! The parents call her all the time saying "the books you send home with DD aren't CHALLENGING enough" (like they can't find more books at the local library). She says she feels like telling the parents to send them to first grade if they're bored but we all know that's not what they're looking for because then their kid won't be the smartest and ahead of everyone.

She said she had 37 bags of homework to correct which I couldn't believe but these kids write in a journal every night. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think we even wrote anything in K! I thought we just played.

Anyway, I am planning on sending DS to preschool at 4 ( he's 2 now). He already goes to DH aunts daycare for a few hours a week to play and be around other kids and he already knows SO much. I can't see him going to preschool at this age.

Jill

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2003
Mon, 02-23-2004 - 2:31pm
I don't send mine until they're 4 and also wait the extra yr before sending them to Kindergarten. Our school is all day, everyday but they still review/teach them everything they already learned in pre-k. My first two only went to pre-k for one year then on to K and they are doing fine.

We push them too much in todays world. Let them be kids! Sometimes I want to send them ASAP too!!!

Stephanie

Stephanie

 &nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2004
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 3:21pm
Preschool at 2 isn't necessary!



You are responsible for teaching her what she can learn. There is nothing at pre-school that you can not teach.

Children need socialization skills at this age but you can get together with friends that have children. Your local library usually runs storytime programs. Take them to the park.

I homeschool my children. I don't regret it a bit. I hope I never have to face sending my children to a preschool or daycare for someone else to raise. I know that I'm fortunate to be able to stay at home with my kids.