Girl/boy Ratio

Our daughter is at a private pre-school & her ratio's were similar..... I wondered about it at first as well - but this year has been fantastic. I would be more concerned about your teacher - if she's great - the class will be great. Our daughter has 5 girls & 13 boys so it's a bit different overall ratio - but it's been fine. She's friends with a few of the boys & really great friends with the handful of girls. We've been to several boy birthday parties this year as a result & they have been loads of fun too. If you like the school & the teacher - I'd say give it a try.......

I don't know how it will be at that age level, however, i went to a small school for 5th-8th grade with the exact same ratio and it was VERY difficult. I transfered into the school in 5th and one girl had been there since preschool and the other came after me. We were in constant battles to be the better of friends. It wasn't fun, but it might be different, you never know.

The ratio of boys to girls does not necessarily determine that a class will be more wild, aggressive or difficult to handle. As the director of a preschool, I have observed that 3 year olds are really just beginning relationships with peers and do not differeniate their play between just boys or just girls. Some of the best classes that I have taught have always been heavy on boys. Three year old preschool should be geared toward a child's social emotional growth rather than simply finding a best friend. Good luck with your first school experience!

I would not be worried at all. At this age, you don't have to worry about girls/boys. They just look at each other as kids. And if it is a good school, the teachers would know what to be aware of. Also, if she is a firecracker...I had one of those, too, she will be just fine! Just make sure she knows it is ok to tell you if anything about the class makes her feel unhappy.

Our daughter is in a class this year of 16 kids- 12 boys, 4 girls. It has really been fine. The preschool and her classroom are very thoughtful and nurturing places, and we had full confidence from the beginning that this was a good place for her. We still feel the same way.

Our daughter- who is a very social, very high-energy, very capable kid- is one of the youngest kids in the class- she turned 4 in November, and the oldest kid turned 5 shortly thereafter. We occassionally see some more aggressive behavior than we used to (like throwing toys when angry, smashing a building she's frustrated with), and we don't know if that has been influenced by playing with boys, playing with older kids, or if it's just her own developmental process. When we see that, we set clear limits about what's okay to do at home- we know that her teachers do the same at school- and it has worked out well.

If I were in a similar situation again, at least with this kid, I would not hesitate to have her there.

L., Hi! I am a retired preschool teacher and taught 3 year olds for 15 years. Since you say that your daughter is a "firecracker" I'm not too worried. If she isn't tiny and timid she will probably do well with the ratio. Hopefully, this will be a class of gentle souls. The ratio could certainly change by fall. If you really like this school and the teacher then it should be o.k.

I work in a daycare teaching a preschool program to 3.5/4 year olds and right now my ratio of girls to boys is 3/8. There really isn't anything that will change. The younger preschool room has 5/7. That was just a popular year for boys to be born.

There are schools (usually montesorri) that are very particular on the ratios of boys/girls. But in a general preschool, they take kids according to their policies and who signs up for what classes. Sometimes the classes are GIRL dominated, sometimes they are pretty even, sometimes boy dominated. My boys have been in all different types of rooms and I didn't notice it's effect on the learning or them playing at all.

no i would not have a problem. they are preschoolers not highschoolers

At three, no. They play easily with one another at that age. Really, I think it's going to be OK. Starting in Kindergarten they do seem to split up by gender. My son is one of just 5 boys in his second-grade class and it has caused him some social unhappiness because with a few exceptions the girls just ignore the boys so there's no one other than those 4 boys to socialize with. (but one of his best friends that he plays with all the time is a girl, so it's not that he's unfriendly to girls.)

I don't understand why it makes you uncomfortable for there to be more boys than girls. Children this age should be taught to learn and play with everyone, why "segregate" them so early? She's not the ONLY girl in the class, and the 3 of them will just gravitate towards eachother!

She will adapt, and so will you. =) The ratio is fine. My daughter has 10 girls and 2 boys in her class. At that age they all are about exploring their world. I think I would be a little more worried about that when she is 15...:P

Mu daughters 3yr preschool class has 11 girls and 1 boy. They dont really care at this age. Might be more of an issue at Kindergarden time.

L.,

My son has been in daycare since he was an infant and when he moved to the toddler room, he was one of maybe 2 boys in a room of girls. At this point (2 1/2 yrs old), it has evened out more but it never crossed my mind for it to be an issue. All the kids play with everything and they don't separate the toys or activities by gender or anything - which they shouldn't.

To the kids they are just other kids. Yea, Jacob knows "girl" and "boy", but he doesn't REALLY know what that means.

If it's a good school and you feel comfortable there don't worry about it. The teachers will do a great job and she'll be great at dealing with boys and girls!

In my daughter's three year old preschool class last year there were 2 girls and 2 boys in the class. My daughter played with everyone, no problem, none of them cared who was a girl or who was a boy. This year there are 3 girls and 8 boys and now the girl/boy thing is a bit more prevalent, as far as them playing separately, but there still isn't a big deal. Even at 4/5 they don't care who they play with at all. I don't think it's that big of a deal as long as they are having fun and learning a little in the process.

I work at a preschool where we only have 3 boys and 5 girls. It doesn't seem to be a problem. They all play together, though they do seem to play more with their own gender. They also play individually. I suppose it depends on the personality of your daughter. If they have a similar ratio now, you could visit the class during school hours and see what it's like. The ratio could still change, unless they don't accept more than 12 kids per class; it is only January.

As a teacher, I can say that it wouldn't bother me. Pick your battles. If it bothers you in preschool, then you'll drive yourself nuts as your child gets older. It's not something that you have a whole lot of control over

L.,

I understand your concerns, I have 2 boys and when they where in preschool there was more boys then girls and now that they are in 3rd grade and the other is in Kindergarten, there is still more boys...really there is nothing that can be done because there are more boys born every year then girls. But I have found that since there is less girls, my boys started to become best friends with girls because there was less of girls then boys, so my boys always played with the girls. I know this doesnt help you because you have a girl, but again I understand your concerns with it. I hope your daughter enjoys preschool.

I don't think it will be an issue. My daughter is 3 and her preschool class is pretty evenly divided. She plays with both girls and boys. She is also taking a parent/tot sports class on the weekend with her dad. She is the only girl in the class, but doesn't care a bit.

I am a preschool teacher and I have been working in childcare for over 20 years and unfortunately you will pretty much find that ratio throughout childcare. I don't know what the reason is for it but in most cases that is what you will find. As a matter of fact in my classroom i have 10 children and only three are girls. I wish i could tell you something different. But if it worries you be sure you do some more research in other schools and ask about the ratio if they are a good school they will not mind sharing.

You're probably gonna find that everywhere. When the babyboomers were having babies the ratio was flipped the other way around..more girls. Now it's boys. The only way a school would be able to control this is to turn away boys because they are boys, and that's not really an option.

My girl was in a room full of boys and some of her best friends are now boys - though she made friends with the girls too. Honestly, kids don't care about that stuff, and neither should we. :) Seriously, there's too much else going on in their lives to worry about ratios. In any case, I just had twin girls, and everyone I know who was pregnant this year had girls - I think things should be turning around for the girl end of the ratio! :D

My son who is in 3rd grade has only 4 boys and 14 girls in his class. The teacher says the only issue is the talking.But thats how all the 3rd grades are at his school. And my son who is in preschool only has 2 boys and a girl. At his age kids are kids