No Preschool

I chose to send my kids to preschool because I personally had a very difficult time learning to socialize in school - I had no friends before kindergarten and got in trouble a lot at school and had trouble making friends. My siblings had gone and were very comfortable in school, but I didn't and I had never been around other kids my age. I didn't want my children to go through that. They didn't need any academics in preschool. I just wanted them to learn to sit and learn to socialize.

my kids were only in preschool because i worked. i wish i'd been able to stay home with them.
'staying home' is no more isolating than 'homeschooling' is, and just as misunderstood. an intelligent, motivated mother can provide every bit as much 'enrichment' and 'socialization' as any preschool.
toddlers do not 'need' institutionalized teaching or playing. if circumstances dictate the necessity, or a parent is truly unable to provide learning and playing opportunities for their kids, it's great that we've got preschools.
but the ubiquitous notion that all kids should attend one is nuts.
ETA, wow, momma W! a gazillion flowers!
khairete
S.

If you take a group of kids and send 1/2 to preschool and not the other half, you will see the difference early in the year. Usually by December, you cannot pick out who went and who did not. There is always the exception to the rule.

R., I've been scrolling through the answers here. As a former preschool teacher myself (who has a 20 year practical background in early childhood ed), I do have to laugh. You have quite the spectrum of answers, some very interesting and some a bit moralistic.

Ultimately, it is really up to the individual child/family/care situation as to how things will work out. A structured parent at home who has good discipline, offers a lot of support and opportunities for structured socialized outings (when their child learns to play/interact with other kids as well as storytimes or other activities which help them practice 'sit and listen') and has a philosophy of "everything in its place" (their house has a sense of order, the child isn't constantly the center of attention or first priority)... all of these things can be just as good at home as it is at preschool.

Smart parents can augment the child's daily play and learning with opportunities to explore new situations,offer rich language and story times, offer games to play which help to build a foundation for math skills.

I also, though, want to point out one thing I haven't seen in this post: one of the best reasons, in my opinion, for a child to go to preschool is to learn how to trust and depend upon caring teachers to help meet their needs. To learn how to *ask* for what they need, to learn to rely on someone else besides mom/dad/family for help. Having a good experience in this way helps emotionally prepare children for the very real dynamic of Kindergarten. At home, a child might be one of one, one of three or so children... at school, that child is one of 22 or 26 or so. There is an enormous shift of expectation which happens in this situation. So, for a child who has learned to navigate the day 'with' a group (instead of off independently), who has learned to be with others *in* the group, and who understands that they are ONE of a group and not the most important person in that group... this is a huge asset.

When surveyed, Kindergarten teachers said that they spend MORE time teaching children self-care skills/social skills than they often do teaching academics. And that one of the best assets a child can bring into kindergarten, besides age-appropriate social skills, is the excitement and willingness to try new things.

Kids at K are a spectrum of personalities; one poster argues that preschool at an early age manifests in above-average aggression in middle class children. As a parent of a first grader in a very middle-class school, I cannot attest to that in what I see on the playground. There is a vast variety of play amongst the younger children at recess, running the gamut from house/baby play (dramatic play) as well as fighting games amongst some groups. Because of our neighborhood demographic, most if not all of the kids in my son's class have attended preschool. If you are concerned about relational aggression, there are clear studies (citing Bronson and Merrimen's well-researched "Nurture Shock" ) which suggest that observed relational aggression (via tv and real life) does often manifest in more of those behaviors than by children who do not regularly observe it. So, while there may be more chances to observe this, two things to note:

1. It is not the Preschool Itself that causes this, but the observation/experience of it. We also find relational aggression amongst siblings and at the park as well as at group playtimes. And

2. While the experience of relational aggression is preferrably avoided, preschool does offer the opportunity for more direct adult coaching through those emotional moments, and with a lower child:adult ratio than K, the child receives more help in developing the skills they need to help resolve the situation.

Like Patricia G, sometimes a second pair of eyes is helpful. My son's preschool teachers identified a 'something not quite right' and we were able to eventually discover some significant vision/eye function issues which we were then able to address early on through eye therapy, thus helping him to get his learning started off on a better track than if it had remained unidentified.

One last thing to add: many of us DO take our kids to preschool for that socialization much for the same reason we do many things: because in the long run, some previous experience of being in the group is better for everyone involved. This is the struggle between the philosophies around the individual vs the group; I do think that for some children, the previous preschool experience helps the K classroom *as a whole*. I sent my son to preschool because he is an only child and frankly, the program was fantastic. That said, if I hadn't liked any nearby programs, I would have kept him in my own and kept my preschool going, because he needed the experiences I describe. While it might have been fun to let him do what he wanted all day, first, that isn't realistic (parents and families have obligations, as should children to some degree) and he would have been at a complete loss come K time.

None of this is to tell you what you should do, R., just that good moms do sometimes send their kids to preschool and that these are some things-- in either situation-- which you should consider, no matter what you choose.

I know you addressed your question to moms who chose not to attend Pre-K, which is not the case with me, but I will just give you my opinion, as mine did attend Pre-k. I have to be very honest with you! Kindergarten nowadays is not what it used to be even 2-3 years back. With the new common core, everything is MUCH MUCH harder. To the point, that I would say some of it is even NOT developmentally appropriate, especially for some of the younger ones. But that's a whole other story! I would say that pre-K is an absolute must nowadays, unless you plan on basically doing some sort of homeschooling. IMO, I feel that in order to be successful going into K, you basically have to know most, if not all letter names and sounds. And even knowing some basic sight words would help tons! Also, they need to recognize numbers 1-20. Overall, 1st grade is not the year to learn how to read anymore, it's basically Kindergarten. Sure, basic reading skills is still a priority in 1st grade, but it's like they expect them for the most part to be ready to take off from the very get go. I work at a school, and when teachers see Kindergartners not reading by the end of the year, they basically start to freak out! Do I think it's right? probably not, but it's what school has become with the latest increase with school standards.

Here is my response as a teacher. I have had successful students who did and did not attend preschool. I've also had students who struggled in school who also did and didn't attend preschool. The biggest difference between all of the students who did attend preschool and those who did not attend preschool were probably more routine/ritual based then academic. Kids who have attended preschool (or been involved in structured groups of some kind--dance, gymnastics, Sunday School, etc.) seem to pick up rituals and routines quicker--sitting in a circle, raising hands, walking in line, being able to follow directions.

The biggest difference academically doesn't seem to depend on preschool exposure. There are some "preschools" out there that are more play based and don't really get kids ready. There are also preschools out there that are TOO academic based. They are asking kids to do things that are beyond what kids can do developmentally. The biggest difference academically seems to be what parents do at home. Not flashcards, teaching kids to read and how to add. It is more just exposure to literacy and numbers.

We just had kindergarten orientation and assessment for our son who will be in kindergarten next year. This is what they say are helpful things for kids to know going into kindergarten:
-tying, zipping, buttoning, snapping, and bathroom routines
-counting from 1-30
-recognizing and naming numberals 1-10
-recognizing and naming colors
-recognizing and naming uppercase and lowercase letters a-z
-recognizing and printing his/her name.

All of that can be taught just through daily interaction with kids at home. I don't think you need to send your kids to pre-school to prepare them for kindergarten, but I do think parents need to at least do a little at home. And some kind of structured group experience is also very helpful!

My son went to daycare, but not preschool. I was working, and I also thought it would be good for him to have kids to play with. He learned phonics there and was reading in Kindergarten. Also, because he was around his peers, his autism was picked up. He was not symptomatic at home, and the signs were at the "we think there might be something, worth checking" level at daycare. He was able to get preschool help because the daycare caught that something was a little "different". So it was a benefit all around.

My sister taught kindergarten for 2 years right at the time that I was considering different preschools for my oldest. She told me that all kids enter kindergarten with different education backgrounds. Even the kids that went to preschool didn't necessarily learn the same things. To her the biggest difference between preschool and non-preschool kids was there ability to function in a classroom. Kindergarten kids these days are expected to sit and work for periods of time. There is fun but there is a lot of doing what you are told at a specific time. She said many of the non-preschool kids struggled with the basics of functioning in a classroom. If you choose not to send your child to preschool, you could certainly work on this at home but it should be something you put an emphasis on so that they transition to kindergarten without issue.

Kindergarten today, is like 1st grade when I was a kid. My son is entering K this fall, and just had his screening. They check for readiness in a lot of areas. Some of the things they worked on in 4 yr PK are: Alphabet, counting to 20, sight words, jolly phonics, name, address and phone number, sorting, grouping...

I feel like kids who don't attend preschool go into K at a disadvantage. If you don't plan on sending your child, you should go to the educational store and get materials to teach him or her these things at home.

With my first, I figured 2 days a week at age 3, for a few hours.

With the last few kids? 5 days a week starting at age 3, 6 hours a day. And at age 2, 3 days a week for 2 hours.

I could not run the household without them going to preschool. I'd rather they play and have fun there than sit at home, complain about wanting TV, while I clean.

They love preschool! I'd do anything to get them in! Lucky for us we have very low-cost options around here. If cost is an issue, look around. I'm amazed at what I find EVEN when I think I know all the options in the area.

I support play, and they get this at school. But they don't just play happily at home; they fight or get bored. They do play nicely at school. The structure and friends are wonderful for them. But my kids also like more than just play at school. Their school is a good mix. It says it's all play-based, and it mostly is. But they LOVE getting to do anything academic (they show off and are proud, lol). I know they are ready for kindergarten, too. The teachers have taught them so much, it's crazy.

After a few months, my two year old could count, name colors, shapes, etc. and he learned it at preschool. They go over it daily so it really stuck. He loves to count everything in sight now.

Preschool is not necessary as long as you talk to your child, play with him/her, take him/her out to experience different things, set up play dates, and especially READ A LOT to him/her.

But if you don't do those things, preschool is VERY necessary. I used to think preschool wasn't necessary, but that was because, like the moms on this site, I spent a lot of quality time with my kids. For our kids preschool wasn't really necessary, just icing on the cake, as one mom said.

For kids who don't have involved parents, however, not going to preschool can be extremely detrimental. Read the 30 Million Word Gap study:
http://centerforeducation.rice.edu/slc/LS/30MillionWordGa...

Hi R.. My kids did go to preschool, and I work in an elementary school. From someone who works at school, I can tell you what we normally see in terms of differences between preschool and non-preschool kids who start kindergarten.

Academically, there is usually not much difference! Non-preschool kids often come in knowing their letters, sounds, numbers, colors, shapes and even sight words just like their preschool peers. Kudos to the parents, who clearly spent time teaching their children at home. Where the kids who did not attend preschool or daycare tend to be behind are more social and organizational skills - not interrupting, unpacking for themselves, keeping track of their supplies, opening their own snack, zipping up their own coat, and in kindergarten, we need kids to have that independence because you'll often have one teacher with 20+ kids and not even an aide. A child who is accustomed to having a 1:1 helper (mom/dad) has often not met these goals. I'm not saying that this is the case with EVERY child who doesn't attend a preschool, but it happens often enough! If you choose not to send your child to preschool, please be sure to work toward independence with your child at home.

I didn't go to pre-school and I did fine in kindergarten. My kids went to preschool a couple of afternoons a week, but it wasn't about preparing them for kindergarten. It was just a fun activity for them to play with friends while I had some time to run errands in peace. As long as you teach your kids the alphabet, number 1-10, how to use scissors, read to them, sing songs, let them have some experience being away from you (with a sitter, or a drop-in) and allow them opportunities to socialize with other children they should be fine.

Mine went to preschool for 9 hours a week when they were three and four.
Many of their peers did the same, or went full time, or not at all.
It has NOTHING to do with school success.
For us, preschool was icing on the cake, it was fun, educational and gave them some social skills and structure.
But they could have and would have learned the same things either way.
Good parenting is what it's all about, teaching a child how to share, wait, take turns, be responsible with shared property, dress and go potty themselves, they don't NEED school for any of that.

The big difference is those that go to preschool know the drill: how to line up, walk in a line, take turns talking, but evidence shows no difference in academic achievement except for exceptionally impoverished children. In fact, middle class kids that attend preschool show more aggressive (wish I had the citation for you..it's something like the standardization of childhood). But any early gains are totally gone by 2 nd grade for headstart kids....

To answer your question, when my friends started sending their 21 month olds to preschool, I decided to do research-it's what I do. Research convinced me that children should be allowed to play till 7-8. This helps them develop their imagination, cultivate problem solving skills, and it allows them to develop at their own pace without pressure. By 7-8, kids without any schooling are usually early readers, know math basics, étc. Children are programmed to learn, and all you need to do is get out of the way and provide an enriching environment.

I so believe in play-based learning that I decided to keep my kids home. My kindergartener does not do any "schooling." We never sit and do "school." Yet, she reads at a 3rd grade level, does 2nd grade math, etc. She cannot write as well as her peers, but she is improving, and meanwhile, she is the most creative kid I know. The stories she comes up with are amazing.her younger brother is following along nicely,spelling simple words, doing math in his head, étc. But he is really our story teller! Yes, they are only playing, but all that make believe is writing! When they are older, they can put it to paper, meanwhile they can color outside the lines. This will be the determining skill to success in the new world economy, not obeying someone else.

So, we play in this house. And I hope we play all the way to college.

I sent my son to a play oriented preschool for K4 only. Nothing prior to that. They did VERY little in the way of school type work. He already knew how to write his name, and since he did, he was expected to do so when he did artwork. Same thing with things like tying shoes and putting on jackets... he could, so he did. Otherwise, the teacher was there to help teach these things.

They focuses much more on sitting nicely in circle time, taking turns responding or telling stories, standing in line to go out to the playground, eating a snack at a table together, raising hands to get the teacher's attention, etc.

He went to a private kindergarten that taught them how to write in cursive. And reading (which he could already do, b/c I taught him at home). He was absolutely fine.
My daughter, did go to an academic styled preschool (K4)--the same private school her older brother was attending. She was never in any sort of daycare setting, and the preschool was more what I expect most kindergarten's are like... fairly rigid, lots of writing and cutting, and following instructions... learning the basics of reading, letters, numbers, etc.
She already could read as well.. and other than the art stuff, was likely bored.

They both are fine.
However... son is now 15, and what is expected in kindergarten may be different than what was expected a decade ago.

---
ETA after Nervy Girl's post:
One of THE MAIN reasons we sent our son to K4 (although I didn't list it before, b/c I posted late and was tired I suppose, lol) was exactly what she mentioned about the child learning how to operate in a setting without mom. I am a SAHM and our son was an only child until he turned 3. While he was not the center of attention constantly (as I have seen with other children at times) he still had never been in daycare or other settings where I wasn't around to come to if there was an issue (needed the bathroom, got hurt, had a question, etc). I wanted him to learn how to navigate when I wasn't around. He did fine.
My daughter on the other hand, (same background as far as never having been in a daycare setting or generally outside of care by family and close friends, certainly not in a larger group setting) needed to really work on her skills in advocating for herself. Even though she potty trained by 2 years old, she would wet her pants if she had to ask to use the bathroom if she felt that it was breaking some rule. In other words, if they were in circle time and the "rule" was to only speak when it was your turn... then she would sit and not speak or break the rules... until it was too late.
She also did not like soda or juices (water or gatorade or milk were all she would drink) so every class party where the moms brought capri-sun or juice packs, she would go without a drink often, b/c she would not speak up and ask to get a cup of water.
By the end of kindergarten we had most of this worked out. But it still took practice. This was her biggest struggle--advocating for herself.
Son had no issues with any of that.

You may be aware of particular areas that your kids would benefit from being in a group setting away from you already, or perhaps you hadn't thought about such things (outside of academic readiness). Preschool for us (husband and I) was never about academics, but always about learning to be away from us for periods of time and how to ask for help to get their needs met from others besides us.

It helped with our daughter that she LOVED school and couldn't wait to go. Son was indifferent at first, but quickly LOVED it as he was very social and couldn't wait to go see his friends every day.

Hi Rach,
I opted out of preschool and am just finishing up Kindergarden with my oldest. I have no regrets. She did just fine in school.
This is my opinion and it is a strong one, so my apologies if I step on toes here. Here are the only legitimate reasons to send your kids to preschool; you work and need child care that is stimulating and structured. You are a mom who needs frequently timed sanity breaks from the demands of motherhood because you have lots of kids and or your child is particularly depend and unable to entertain themselves.

Here are some upsides to preschool that should never factor into sending your kid to preschool because they do not even come close to comparing to the benefits of being home with parents: They learn to follow directions from a non parent, they learn to stand in line and wait their turn. They get socialized with other kids (which is both good and bad because here is where you will have outside influences).

Don't even think to let academic advancement factor into your decision to do preschool or not. There is nothing about preschool academics that you cannot do at home as good or better than a preschool can do. Consider Finland, they don't start formal education until age 7 and they have a 100% literacy rate. There is a lie being pushed that your child is more likely to go to college if they went to preschool. Don't buy it.

I am grateful to have had that time with my kids. They grow up so fast. And that there is a push or pressure at all for preschool just makes me sad. If you aren't feeling the preschool thing, consider that mothers intuition. Keep them at home.

I'm sure teachers benefit from having inherited "classroom ready" kids. But what benefit is that to the child and to you, to miss that precious time together? Isn't that the most important thing to consider?

You know what my child sucked at when she was 4 -5 and around other 4- 5-year-olds?- waiting her turn in line. But you know what? Thats about the only thing she struggled with and who the "H" cares. She figured it out soon enough. I will always be grateful for the time I had when my kids were little. We were each others world and I think thats the way God intended it.

Teach them their letters, their number 1-20, how to write their name, to recognize shapes and colors, and they will be ahead of the game for K. If you really want to give them a head start, teach them their single letter sounds and short vowel sounds. If at age 4 you spend 10 minutes two or three times a week on these skills, I promise, they will be more advanced than most kids that did preschool since age three. One on one teaching is supper efficient compared to the classroom setting. (and just so you know where I am coming from, I hybrid home schooled this year ((meaning she did some classroom days and some home school days.)))

I am raising a GD who never saw the inside of a daycare center or preschool or school until her first day of kindergarten. She has always been at the top of her class - even ahead of those who did go to preschool. So, no, I absolutely would not change a thing.

The biggest reason we had DD in preschool was social. Learning to play with others, follow directions, etc. She is by far the youngest (almost an only) and struggled with self control. She is also a younger kindergartener. Without preschool, I think K would have been harder. I did not have her in preschool at 3, but I did at 4. When she was younger, I did things like have her attend Sunday School and events where she would sit apart from me and follow someone else's instructions. I wanted her to learn to take someone else's lead, even if it was just story time. I would look for local Mom Day out and summer camps and clubs for that kind of behavioral learning.

ETA: My sister did not go to preschool and I did. I don't know that it made a major difference. Might have mattered more if she didn't have a big sister to show her the ropes, but she has 2 degrees, a career and I'd call her a very successful person.

My 10 year old didn't attend preschool. Entering kindergarten she knew everything she needed to know going in as far as academics were concerned. It made it very easy on her in that regard. She's social by nature so adapting to school routines and meeting others was a great experience for her. There's honestly not anything I would have done differently. She is in the 4th grade now and is at the top of her grade. I don't see for her where preschool would've mattered one way or the other.

My DD is just finishing Kidnergarten and never had preschool. I worked with her at home on independence-but found she didn't have ANY interest in acedemics with me. She wouldn't play school, practice flash cards, alphabet, etc. I tried to make it fun-but she was stalwart. She knew the ABC song-but didn't recognize all the letters. So, I tried ABC mouse (she started at 4 1/2) and she responded so well that I continued. Not everyday-there were even weeks at a time that she didn't do it. By the time Kidnergarten started started she knew all the letters and could write her full name. She was the only kid that didn't have a teary eyed first day-she told me bye and I left the sappy mess b4 my tears started. She had no problem listening, lining up, etc. She was recognized for her kindness. She is reading 1st grade sight words.
I volunteer in her class and there are a few kids who did preschool and
latch key that seem to be behind. It's rather sad to see all the work the kids have done-and the few so far behind. I'm sure their parents work-but it takes only a few minutes every night to practice a set of sight words so they can advance. Or read for 15 minutes and log it (the same kids do not hand in their reading logs).
My DS went to preschool and has dreaded school since he started. (now in third).

I am also an educator, but I work with teens. We were fortunate enough to get a spot in Head Start for my daughter. She turned 4 in October, so she isn't technically old enough to start K until next year, but I was seriously thinking about pushing for it because academically she is ready and would do well.

But, she still has a lot of social learning and growing to do. She will sometimes have breakdowns at school when she doesn't get what she wants. For example one day I was volunteering and they all got new toothbrushes. She got a green one...it was random, and she literally threw a HUGE fit, like I had hardly ever seen, because it wasn't pink. I asked her teacher if she had done that before, and she said a few times. Obviously this type of behavior isn't ok. But, she also is working on building friendships and getting along.

There is a theory of different Intelligences that we are taught to honor as educators. One of them is Social Intelligence, another is Emotional Intelligence, and these skills need to be developed for people to do well in interacting with others. Because my daughter just isn't ready socially and emotionally, her teacher and I decided to let her have another year of Head Start. If she hadn't gone in the first place, we wouldn't know that she has some specific things to work on.

I can't say what is right for you and your child, but I recommend preschool or Head Start for the social opportunities, as well as the responsibility and how to follow routines and rules. It's a hard decision, especially when you have to add in financial cost.

We did have her in a community preschool last year, that was only $60 a month because it was at the local high school and so they used the students to be helpers for the teacher and the aid. She loved it! But, head start was free and a better time for us. So, you could take a look at those types as well. I really liked the program a lot.

Its a hard decision to make, good luck.

I saw this post a few days ago but just haven't had the time to pour my thoughts into it.

Please understand that I am speaking as a Kindergarten teacher...but I "retired" when our oldest was born. That was 14 years ago.

As a teacher, I still made the choice not to send our kids to a formal pre school. ( husband was totally on board as well) I personally felt it was a waste of money.

I am home full time. Why pay someone else to provide the experiences and education that I can do for free? Children do not NEED preschool to become successful in school...or life for that matter. Studies show that once kids reach 3rd grade, you can not differentiate between students that did or did not attend preschool.

I have read many books regarding child development. I just don't see the hard facts that make me see the need to put young children in school before they are truly developmentally, socially or emotionally ready. 5 years old has been the age to begin institutional education for a reason. Overall, children that age are developmentally ready to begin the process.

I totally understand the need for parents who work full time to find the best possible solution to fit their family's circumstances. The experiences at pre school /day care are needed because mom or dad cannot physically be there to do it.

I take my role as a mother very seriously and look at my child's needs in the moment, yet also think to the future. What skills and knowledge do they need to be a well rounded teenager,young adult and adult.

The world can be your child's classroom. It just takes some creativity to find the moments and experiences for your child. Take for example a simple trip to the grocery store. At the grocery store we talk about budgeting, healthy eating, price comparison, following directions and then I have them ask questions to the produce worker or ask a clerk where the restroom is. We attend church. There they learn many things both secular and non secular. They learn that there are times mommy and daddy are not in charge and they need to respect their elders. They need to sit, be quiet and raise a hand to be called upon.

Each of my kids were involved in a mommy preschool the year before formal Kindergarten. I found a group of moms who would like to co op preschool with me. We rotated the teaching at our homes, used a credible curriculum and planned little field trips. This curriculum cost very little and we split the cost. We would rotate the teaching so when were not teaching we had some "me" time. I think I taught two times a week for two weeks then off for 6 weeks.

Our kids are in 8th,6th and 2nd grade today. They are very successful, social and outgoing. They perform in music and sports, are great readers and loved by their teachers. They are also leaders among their peers.

I wanted them to have opportunities to play and learn social order among their peers. Too often the scheduled activities don't allow for collaboration, free thinking and exploration. Kids are told where to sit, what team to be on, what to do, when to be done etc. Kids don't ask questions..they just wait to be told what to do. Studies find that this is seeping into the workforce. Heck, my husband sees it as he has hired and fired people. He cannot sit over their shoulders to tell them step by step instructions. We are losing our initiative to try new things, to innovate , to problem solve, to trouble shoot etc.

I do not regret for one moment the extra days and years I was able to be with our kids at home. But, it is not so much about me wanting to be with them. It is about them needing the security at a young age of being home more, being mentored by a loving parent and feeling safe and LOVED. I totally believe that a child that has a loving and nurturing foundation will become very successful. (and I am not talking about a big paycheck)

I recently read the book, "How Children Succeed- Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character", by Paul Tough. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It really sums up our approach to parenting. I want our kids to explore the world around them, have freedom to be who they want to be, have opportunities to make mistakes and fail and then get back up and try again, and most of all to have a desire to help others and serve their fellowman.

You got waaaay more than you were asking for. I just see so many parents stressed out and feeling pressured into getting their little ones in the "best" preschool, best school, tons of extra curricular activities, tutoring ,etc for fear they might set their kids up for failure in life.

Too many kids today are over scheduled, stressed out, anxiety riddled and broken. And for what??? Just to keep adding to that resume in mom and dads heads for the college application. Parents are also feeling the pressure to keep up with their own peers and all the activities the friends' kids are in. It is insane!!

I suggest watching the movies Race to Nowhere and Waiting for Superman. It has opened my eyes to the changes in our education system and the ridiculous pressure parents feel today but most of all the pressure heaped on the shoulders of our young kids. I guess it hits home because we have had some students locally commit suicide due to the pressure they feel academically at school, from parents and peers. So sad!

Ok..I am off my soapbox. Take what you want and dismiss the rest.

In a nutshell. Our kids did not go to formal preschool. They did not struggle aside from what is normal. Yes, they were and are successful. No, I wouldn't have done anything differently. Except maybe not so many "field trips" to the donut shop! (hee...hee!)