PreSchool Vs Teach Yourself

Preschool teaches much more than ABC's & 123's. They learn that they have to listen to teachers, who are not their parents. They learn how to sit with other children and pay attention. They learn how to walk with other children in a line. They learn how to raise their hand. They get to socialize with other kids their own age, how to share, etc.

My daughter has been in preschool and now in Pre K, and I think it has been WONDERFUL for her education.

I think you could do both...home and preschool. Send her a couple times a week...she needs to get interaction with other children and used to being away from you.
You could teach her more, but let her have that time in school as well.

I have been in teaching preschool for 20 years now, and I currently own a preschool. Our company has done research on the study of the brain, and how important the early years can be. The brain does most of its development from birth to five years. Think of it as a road map and all the connection roads. The child cannot connect to that road unless it is driven there. Preschool should not be a play based activity for your child, nor should it be for a break for mom (being a mom of four, I know how important those breaks can be). Preschools should be teaching your three's and four's reading skills in phonics, and math skills. They should be as advanced as my school is in academic fields that teach not only the child but the parents what their children are capable of learning. Preschools should prepare your child academically, socially, and how to be a working part of a classroom. When your children enter the public schools they should be able to function in a classroom of 30 or more students with one teacher, and have the confidence and ability to work independently and be prepared to complete any task the teacher gives them. With no preschool I cannot see how that would be possible. I always tell my parents that preschool is only part time and that enriching your child at home and offering them all the experiences possible is key to success. Working with your schools to educate your children together is also key. Good Luck in your search and enjoy these years, as I believe they are the best.

I believe teaching them at home to prepare them for kindergarten is the best way to go if you have that opportunity. Your best resource is haning out at the library.

Three year olds don't need academics. They need to learn to socialize with others, to adapt to a structured environment, to adjust to a teacher as an authority figure, to work in a group, to wait their turn, to go from one learning station to another, and to negotiate their own space with their words. The purpose of preschool is really not to teach them to write or to use the computer. Those are side benefits but not essential. The group structure in a class of 10-12 is what allows them to work in a larger kindergarten class. This cannot be done at home, in my opinion.

As a former Kindergarten teacher, I can tell you there is often a noticeable difference between kids who went to preschool and those who didn't. Not in academic achievement necessarily, but in school preparedness.

The point of preschool shouldn't be to get your child reading or doing math before Kindergarten. It is to introduce kids to the culture of school - the fact that they have to do things in groups, listen to the teacher and follow directions, cooperate and get along with other kids, etc. And to learn that school is a fun place! They will teach about letters and numbers and shapes and colors, but all that is secondary. (Even story time takes different behaviors and expectations with a class than with just mom!)

Now, at 3, she would do just fine going only 2 or 3 days a week. Or even waiting another year. But I would say that at least 1 year of preschool before kindergarten helps a child be much more ready with all the "culture" issues so that they can jump right into the learning!

Save yourself a lot of money and do it yourself. You can buy workbooks at the store. PLUS your child will benefit more from mommy time then off to preschool. Don't worry about socialization, your child doesn't live in a bubble.

My 3 kids didn't go to preschool and 2 of them are social butterflies ( middle daughter has Autism). Then learn everything they need in school preschool does not put them ahead. My youngest is doing very well, she is in the 1st grade and ahead of the other kids.

At 3 I would keep her home. You can go to pretty much any store and get wonderful workbooks to teach them with. Preschool curriculum is very easy to come by.
At that age they still need mommy. At 4 you may consider putting your child in a pre-k class if you feel she needs the practice before kindergarten. But preschool is certainly not a requirement before kindergarten.

My son did not go to preschool and he's in first grade this year. Last year kindergarten he did great. He went to an in-home daycare and I bought some preschool workbooks and read to him. He's a great reader and I've had no problems with him at school. http://www.education.com/ has some great resources and worksheets for all grade levels. I print off some for my now 3 year old girl to get her ready.

Yes, read to your child teach numbers, etc. Everybody stresses this socialization stuff, but I just don't see what great thing it does. Everybody puts all this emphasis on socialization, and things are worse than ever. If there's one thing I could teach my children it would be to be very discriminate about whom they permit access to their time and lives. That's just me. My son(3) will start pre-k this winter, I take him to local playgrounds, etc. to play with kids, he's friendly and well behaved, and we moved last year and know nobody, and he gets along well, is looking forward to pre-k. Yes, the one on one time is uncomparable.

I'm sure you could teach her what she needs to know at home academically. Preschool is important for teaching social skills...getting along with others, taking turns, following directions, getting used to a classroom setting and being away from mom. You could do a 1/2 day program 2-3 days a week. That way you will still have plenty of time with your daughter and she will get some exposure to a school setting.

I had the same issue when my kids were 3 yrs old. I had been a preschool teacher for many years and wondered the same thing. I did keep my son at home with me and taught him myself for half the year and then sent him to preschool for the remaining half of the year. Then at 4 yrs old he went to preschool the entire year. I feel that socialization with peers is something that they can not learn being at home. Compromise and negotiation with peers is a huge part of learning to "deal" with people. My son did amazing things at school that he would have never been compliant enough to do at home with me. So the choice is really yours. Will she be scared by not going to preschool at 3? Not likely. Perhaps if you choose to keep her at home for 3 and teach her yourself, you could also institute a playgroup to help keep her socially energized. My son was reading at 4 yrs old, he taught himself. My daughter I let go to preschool at 3yrs old and she is academically ahead of her peers. So there is no "Right Answer", it is all up to you. I am sure that you will make the right choice for your family.
Good Luck

I used the Preschool Learning Guide called Teach Me Mommy by Jill Dunford to do a small neighborhood "preschool" with 4 of my daughter's friends the same age (you can find it on Amazon). It is a FANTASTIC resource. The moms and I rotated weeks (we held it once a week, and then I did some on my own with just my girl), and all the kids had a great time. I loved spending the extra structured time with my daughter, and she absolutely loved having my undivided attention while learning fun things. She's in kindergarten now and still talks about "remember when we did Mommy School? That was so fun!" I wouldn't trade those times with her for anything. Sure, it was a bit more effort on my part, but not much. Plus, with the rotating, I got the free-time I needed. Here's a link to Amamzon... you can get cheap used copies.
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Mommy-Jill-Dunford/dp/0931...

One of my favorite other resources is Jim Trelease's "The Read-Aloud Handbook". http://www.amazon.com/Read-Aloud-Handbook-Sixth-Jim-Trele...

At 3 years, I believe your child needs YOU more than anything. At 4, a structured preschool a couple hours a week might be just the ticket.

the Socialization they get in school has no comparisson

i totally agree with Jenny V. my first son was able to go to a preschool with a small classroom that had play time but lots of reading, writing, math, foreign language, music, variety of physical activity, painting every day, field trips to places i wouldn't have been able to afford without the group rate. it was a great school. my second son only has one choice for preschool this year because of our current income. when i asked the teacher what they do for writing and reading, her answer was, "we don't push it." i was not pleased with that. however, i understand better now how to teach those things to my son myself. at preschool he is learning some important things, especially socially. he is able to do things like painting and supervised woodworking that i would not provide for him because i also have a 2 yr old who would make those things very difficult right now. at home we talk about the sounds of letters, the proper way to write them, and do flash cards to teach him to read. i help him spell labels for his drawings. we play Uno and other number games. i only do as much as he is willing to sit for. good luck!

I think that the socialization they get at school is very important. I don't know if kids really need 2 years of preschool but 1 year is good. I had my son go to the local high school in a child development class and he loved it. The high school kids were the teachers (along with the main teacher) and it was more one on one. There were a limited amount of kids allowed in the class. He went for 2 1/2 hours. This got him ready for the long days of kindergarten that he is now in. He learned alot and loved it.

Its really up to you. You know your child best and only you would know what would be best for them. I teach preschool and in my experience some children just aren't ready at 3 for that. Most are by four. You would definatly get more one on one with her. The part about preschool that is great is social, learning to share, to work things out with other kids, etc. So it depends on what your child needs and what you would like for her

Hi - I dont see any problem with teaching her at home except for the fact that preschool is about 20% pre-reading skills and 80% socialization. They learn how to function in a classroom environment, cooperate with the teachers and other kids, how to resolve conflict, etc.

I have many friends who homeschool and their kids are very successful but they also have a church environment and organized sports, music, etc. to keep them in touch with others.

I think the answer will depend greatly on what your long term goals and vision are for your daughter. What do you want for her? I would never give these precious years away to anyone else to be blessed by. I want my children to be bonded to me, to continue to grow in relationship with me, and to identify themselves in our home and our family. We LOVE these preschool years with our littles. We know they are fleeting. If I were you, I'd keep her home, read to her, play with her, cherish every minute. There is nothing that a preschool can offer her that you cannot. People comment on the socialization issue. That theory that you cannot socialize your children at home has been laid to rest already. It is a myth that is not founded on a shred of truth. You certainly can socialize your children at home. They live in a family. That is GREAT socialization. And, I assume you that you don't stay locked in your house with your children alone your whole life. Surely you socialize with people out in the big world. ;) Some resources you can look into is starfall.com and letteroftheweek.com. Both are cute and gentle for children. Starfall is one they can work with independently once they are able to work the mouse, etc. letteroftheweek is one that helps you manage your teaching. It gives you ideas such as book titles and crafts for each letter of the alphabet, which you can use as you have them available (or get them from the library). I totally understand your dilema though. I sent my first born to a montessori school for preschool at 4. Then, on to ps for K. I regret it. After K, we brought him home, and have homeschooled him (he has graduated already!) and his siblings the rest of the time. I have one preschooler left! I cannot fathom sending her off to school! It shocks our kids to even consider the idea. LOL We adore the time we have together. And, we're VERY social. :)

I have two sons, 4 and 6. My advice is if you are unsure, find a good preschool and go part time. A couple days a week in the mornings, or something like that.

Your child gets the benefit of learning to socialize with other kids, learn new things, learn how to manage his/her feelings, how to be assertive, share, emphasize, and just have fun with new people and new experiences. If there is a cost at all, it is minimal.

When you pick him or her up, spend that time together learning in fun ways. Go to the zoo to teach them about animals and conservation. Use the changin seasons as an opportunity for hands on activities for learning the seasons, and how they effect us, animals, nature, etc. Point out letters and numbers when in the car, at the store, etc. Try to think on a simple level, even get down at their height and see the world from their perspective. Everyday is an opportunity to learn something new, for both of you! :)
My kids learn about money and reading every time we go to the store.
You can also use the preschool teachers as a resource for activities and find stuff at home.

Depends. Does your child respond to you in a "teaching role"? Mine is a regular boy scout when it's anyone BUT me teaching/requesting, etc! lol

Google "Kindergarten readiness".

My child is an only so 2 mornings per week for a 3 yo class was great--a little bit of time but a lot more socializing for him.

I've read many responses to this same question when it's been on here before and I've started to think that it might just depend on your child and their personality. I can only share some of my personal experiences so far (sorry if this is lengthy):

1. My daughter turned 3 in August and just started preschool 2 days a week. She loves it. She has already known her letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc. since she was 2 and we reinforce that all the time, but she has gotten to the point where she is often bored at home and looks forward to any experience outside of home. She is also very sociable and outgoing and loves interacting with other kids. I have plenty of activities that she can do at home (coloring, play-doh, paints, etc.) and she is also doing a gymnastics class once a week (more of a "waiting in line and taking turns class" but that's okay). But I think some kids reach a point where being home with Mommy all day every day is just not enough for them and my daughter seems to be one of them. She's been left with baby sitters before and is not bothered by it at all. We also did a Mom and Tot class last year with the same teacher that is teaching her preschool class this year, and my daughter adores her. She also has a lot of the same kids from that class in her class now and she remembers all of them and looks forward to seeing them. She is disappointed when it is not a preschool day and all excited when it is.

2. My SIL on the other hand did no preschool with her son at all. He tended to be quite shy and clingy and I can't say how much of that was his natural personality, and now much could be that his mom didn't take him to too many places or had him socialize much with other people. She felt he would not handle preschool well because he was so clingy to her. She also felt that she could teach him his alphabet, etc. herself at home and didn't need to spend the money on preschool. Problem was, she didn't really try to teach him anything. She just let him watch TV all day long and didn't take him to any activities outside the house. When he had to start kindergarten at 5 years old, he was totally unprepared and had a horrible time adjusting. It was his first experience being away from mom for any significant length of time and being expected to get along in a group of his peers and take direction from another adult. He had to have someone from the school escort him inside when his mom dropped him off because otherwise he would run screaming and crying back to the car and beg to go home. This went on for 2 months. Then the teacher said that he needed to start going full day instead of a half day because he "wasn't on par with the other kids." (SIL's words). Then by the end of the year, the school recommended that he repeat kindergarten because he still really wasn't ready for 1st grade. My SIL was kinda upset about that because she felt like she had been trying to work with him at home too but really, IMO, she should have been doing more when he was 3 and 4. But she still had him repeat and he did a little better. He is in 3rd grade now and still hates school. I think that first year of K was more like the preschool that he didn't get before. I don't know if actually doing preschool at 3 or 4 would have made all the difference but I can't help but think it might have to some degree.

3. Some kids don't adjust well to preschool but sometimes it just takes time. My daughter's preschool teacher told us that in her 20+ years of teaching preschool, she's only had to recommend twice that the kids get pulled out because it was more of a negative experience than a positive one.

4. It can depend on the preschool program too. Ours is through the school district that we live in. There are Montessori programs that operate a little differently and can be more expensive. There are churches that offer preschool programs. Not all are created equal. My really good friend did preschool through their church for her son when he was 4 but then was disappointed at the end when her son was tested for readiness for kindergarten through the school district and apparently was way behind. He was still able to go but spent much of the year trying to catch up with the other kids. My friend felt that that particular program was a waste of time and money since her son apparently got nothing out of it (her words, not mine).

5. Personally, I am a big believer in preschool but I know some folks are not. I will admit that it irks me a bit when people say that it's just "day care for the rich." 2 - 3 hours twice a week is not the same as full time day care. And we are not rich by any means, we just spend our money on other things that are more of a priority for us and budget appropriately. My daughter's preschool is costing us about $600 for the whole school year. I'd rather spend the money on that then on the latest electronic gizmo. And the break that I get when DD goes off to school is priceless! :)

Yes, your daughter could learn everything she needs to be prepared for kindergarten at home with you. The one thing she wouldn't get is the socialization - being on her own without mom, being responsible for initiating conversation with the teacher/other children, and being more independent as a result.

So, depending on your daughter's personality, you may choose to do preschool at home or you may choose to do it in a school setting. She will eventually get all of the socialization experience in kindergarten. You just have to decide when you want her to do that (now or later).

I do preschool activities with the kids at my in-home daycare. My son is pretty sharp and interested in learning. He's done art projects, music and movement activities, cooking, etc. He knows his ABCs and numbers and is beginning to sound out words. BUT I still decided to put him into preschool at age 4 for the socialization. He is a very outgoing kid at home, but very shy around people he doesn't know. He tends to watch kids at the playground, rather than talking with them and playing with them. I am sending him to get that socialization now, rather than waiting for kindergarten next year.

If you do a program at home, do a google search for "preschool curriculum". There are lots of resources out there. I used Mother Goose Time with my daycare kids. There are tons of others. Good luck!

We have a public preschool attached to our school district here, and my daughter is 3 and a half, we went ot the screening and she passed with flying colors, BUT, that counted against her for getting into the preschool - the kids who were less advanced, family or economically disadvantaged, and older, got prescedence. So whether we like it or not, we are waiting till she is 4 and a half for her to go to preschool. I really was looking forward to the social interaction for her, since I stay home, and most other moms in out tiny town work - she doesn't have many play dates or friends her won age she gets to spend much time with.

That said, she is doing fine developmentally, physically and mentally. She is starting to read, and do simple adding and subtraction, she knows all her letters, Capital and lowercase, and the sounds they all make, can count to 20, knows all her colors and shapes, and is learning more day after day. You can teach them those things fine at home, BUT I believe preschool is essential to learing to get along in the school structure and play well with others, etc.

I am looking forward to her going next year, and we talk about it alot, so it won't be scary or a big surprise when it is time.

As for "resources" your own home and everything in it can be a teaching tool! All her little books, anything you can get from the library, do crafts with her, let her explore and do arts/crafts herself, let her help put away dishes, fold laundry ( mathcing socks, folding wash cloths and towels, sorting clothes into whites, brights and darks). We do love our BOB books http://bobbooks.com/ she read the first two of the first set to me all by herself the other day!!! We have learned alot from placemats - found mostly at Walmart - she learned colors, shapes, numbers and letters from placemats, after she was done eating and mom and dad were still eating, we whould talk about her placemats with her. I have a craft room in the basement, and she has her own corner in there, with paints, markers, clay, crayons, stickers, safety scissors....we work together and independantly, and she loves it!

She also LOVES to help me Bake and cook, shich are actually math and science skills, counting, measuring, mixing, following a recipe ( a formula ) to make something!

Good Luck!

Jess

At that age, they definitely get farther academically with parental one-on-one time (in my experience), but preschool will help them adjust to structured situations and will give them a chance to interact socially. I think that for some children staying home till age 4 is a better option and for others preschool is better. Does your child get much opportunity to socialize with children her own age? Do you have other children to take care of (if so maybe she could benefit from the one-on-one time since while the others are in school is her only chance for it).

For my son the extra year of one-on-one time was best; he only went to one year of preschool. He is now in kindergarten and is extremely ahead academically.

For my daughter, preschool was the right answer. For a couple of reasons. A) she needed the socialization. She is a bit shy and reserved and needed to get out of the house and around friends/people her age.
B) my daughter had NO interest in learning from me. If I tried to work on something she would kind of shut down.She learned better at school.
I remember one insident in particular. She was using scissors and I told her the proper way to carry them. She said "I know, my teacher taught me that." I said, "Well I tried to teach you that but you didn't listen." Her response, "I listened to my teacher!"
I think it mostly depends on your childs personality. Will they listen to you and learn or are you mom and get ignored.
My daughter is now in K and LOVES it. She is happy to go and comes home happy. She did tell me she doesn't like recess, she just likes doing the papers.
Good luck.

My reasoning for sending my sons to preschool when I was a SAHM were for socialization and to give me a break! They went 2-4 days per week for 1/2 a day. They DID learn a lot, although we worked on lots of things at home like ABCs, shapes, colors, etc. but that wasn't my goal. She'll learn plenty staying home with you as long as you take up time with her, but don't go overboard -she needs to learn through play, and there will be plenty of time for all of the "facts and figures" when she starts school. Does she play with other kids a lot? That would be my main focus is perhaps preparing her for school in a few years by having her go somewhere away from you for a little while each week, adhere to their schedule, do what that teacher says and learn to socialize with others her age.

Hi, You can't beat "Mom Time". It's absolutely priceless to be able to teach your children and believe it or not your little one will actually learn more. You don't need some superb piece of curriculum to teach a 3 yo. She wants and needs to learn by watching/helping Mom. This is your chance to teach and train her what you want her to learn. So everything Mom is doing is a teaching lesson for daughter. Then when you need a break go to the park or break out the coloring books or paints or some type of fun activity. And don't forget to read to her. That will put her far and above the crowd! If you are able to stay at home and home school your kids even as they get older that would be the absolute best for you and your children. Blessings, L.