My 3 year old toddler is in a program that uses a "creative curriculum" which has minimal structure or formal academic learning. They teach the children through self-paced learning and self-discovery.
I am getting concerned as he's not learning / grasping colors, shapes, ABCs, number/letter recognition, etc. While I know it's not good to compare children at this age, my friends kids between 2 and 2 1/2 years old already know much of this stuff.
Should I be concerned or leave him in an evironment that he is both familiar with and likes.
I would do the latter, leave him in the place where he is the most happy. I was in the same position, or my son was. He had a speech delay and when he spoke, no one understood what he was saying. Meanwhile, he was spelling his butt off! The teacher he had didn't want him in her class and it broke my heart. I insisted that he stay because he really loved it there, and it helped him.
Robyn,
If your son was 4 1/2 and heading to kindergarten in the fall, maybe I'd be concerned, but at three, it's no big deal. All kids learn at different paces. For example, my son is 2 years, 4 months. He can sing the alphabet, he can count to 16 or so, and he can sing nursery rhymes. But he has almost zero spontaneous vocabulary outside of that. For all you know, the Mom next door sits her kid in front of Sesame Street all day long, and the kid memorized it from there. Or she's some kind of academics fanatic who aims flash card at the poor thing.
Because my son is getting ready for pre-school in September, I've been dealing with a lot of this. I've researched on the internet, talked to other Moms, even interviewed preschool teachers. What I've come up with is that pre-school should be primarily a social experience, especially the three year old programs. What I am looking for out of next year for my son is for him to be able to separate confidently from me (I'm a SAHM), to follow direction from another authority figure, to feel confident and comfortable in a classroom environment, and to learn to make friends with other kids. That seems like a pretty tall order for a three year old!
If you want your son to get more traditional pre-reading skills under his belt, work on them through his play time. Teach colors and how to mix colors and all with some finger paint. Get a memory game, and let him count the number of matches at the end. Let him watch Sesame Street on the weekends, or get him one of those electronic learning games for pre-schoolers for Christmas. The kids love to play them, it is a viable teaching tool, and there's no pressure or expectations. Your son is going to deal with grades and testing and demands for certain levels of performance his WHOLE life. Does it have to start at 3?
I wouldn't worry about it. As others have said, preschool should be an environment of social learning. He will eventually learn his colors and numbers and letters and all of that. He loves it where he is and a move to a new school and to a more structured environment would probably not benefit him. He may not be learning the things traditionally learned by kids his age in mainstream preschools, but I'm sure he is learning.
Also, you can work at home with him for the other stuff if you are really worried about it. In the car on the way home you could talk about the colors you see, count the red cars that you see, and talk about the signs and what they say and what it means. At home you could count the potatos before pealing them, at bed time you could let him "read" a story before or after you do. You don't really have to do anything extra, just change the way you do the things you already do. Kids don't need to be sitting at a table with paper and pencil to learn things.
Good luck!
Your sons personality should help you determine what environment works best for him. My daughter started preschook at 3 1/2 and 4 weeks into it, she was writing her name and now 6 months later, she is doing more, learning more, saying more. she is in a structured environment, which works best for her. She is methodical and functions best when she knows what is going to happen. I have balanced her school day 8:10am-2:45pm with a "wild and crazy" afterschool program at her same school.
If it really bothers you and your son is happy where he is, you can work with him on his ABC, 123, etc.
if your concerned call early intervention they will evaulate him . my youngest who's 3 can say alphabet , count to 40 & know colors & shapes Her prek has both creative & standard learning plus its good to help yourself . read. point things out in the store, taking a walk.Every child is different & special
Hi Robyn, from my own experience as a mom of 3 (now 13,14, &14) and a Kindergarten Head Teacher of a national center, your son should do well even with the Creative Cirriculum program. It is a very nice program. Have you ever considered teaching your son the ABC's using "sign language"? I started to teach my youngest when she was 15 months. She'd had a febral seizure and needed to go to hospital. It was their that she actually became potty trained. She wound up using the sign for potty when she couldn't hold it any longer, (about 7 hrs. later). The staff wanted to make sure she "went" before she could go home. Today she stills practices some of it and is quite "bright". Not exceptionally but pleasingly bright. Give your son time, make sure he is exposed to lots of vocabulary such as music, stories, pictures. Try using an "I spy" book, after a short while he should be able to pick up some of the words you or someone else is sharing with him. I liked to make my own games to teach my children some of the basics. I know it's tough being a working mom. If you would like me to assist you in creating some fun stuff, just let me know. Be more than happy to help you. Your older son would have fun too, afterall, he can play teacher too. Let me know how things go. P.
If you are concerned try a new school. If your child does not respond well to the new environment then put him back to where he is comfortable.
Some children do well in a non structured enviroment and some need more structure.
My sons preschool starts "teaching kids from birth"
they start with keeping some stuf routine. like even in the baby room they have there own cubbies and hooks. and there are things that remain the same throughtout the school. now once they hit 3 thats when the full structure comes to play before then its more of an informal way of learning (learning through play). With only some "structured events" throughout the day to prepare for 3. YOur kid sounds like mine. (an many others)need structure. boys are harder and if you dont have time at home to be a "teaching mom" like most of us. then he should be in a more structured enviroment. and in my opinion preschool should be more structured for all kids.
good luck there hard to find
L.
