Does It Offend You When...

[Imagination's Creations]

A daycare parent want s to take their child to a preschool even though you teach preschool? I feel like it's saying "You dont know what you're doing". Ive taught preschool before at the nursery school in my high school's child care classes. All my curriculum is based off of how I learned to teach from being in that class. With the exception that I go beyond just that. I have a 4 year old daughter who can read AND write, no thanks to a "preschool", but to my program! My 22 month old daughter can name all the colors, shapes and count to ten! She has a full vocabulary also. I know for a fact preschool programs in my area dont teach the kids to read, yet alone write! Its annoying and insulting IMO.

[Naptime yet?]

I'm not offended because by that time, I'm ready for them to leave

[butterfly]

Yes! But I try to shrug it off. I've learned that I can't please everyone.

I've also learned to be a better communicator about what we are actually learning and working on. In the past, the parents didn't even realize how much "preschool" we do here. Once I started communicating what we are learning, there seemed be much less talk of removing kids from my care to get them into a traditional preschool.

I do have one family who also takes their kids to preschool in addition to my care, but only because they feel that their children would feel like they missed out since their older siblings had gone to this same preschool (before they started in my program). They have told me on several occasions how advanced their child is in the preschool program, but they are sweet enough to give ME all the credit for it.

[cheerfuldom]

I dont think you should take it personally. A LOT of parents want the comfort and status of an official preschool with the structure, center feel, the actual building with the name on it. Sure they usually want their child to learn but most parents want something more. They like getting a little backpack, seeing their baby head off to preschool like a big kid, the activities and number of children and school feel of an actual preschool.

You can't provide that nor am I saying you should. Just keep in mind that the preschool thing is rarely about just learning, its more about the parents getting the experience.....not even so much about the kids.

[Imagination's Creations]

I'm not offended because by that time, I'm ready for them to leave

This is actually one of my favorite clients. Im sure its more of a money thing. They think that because she will be here for two hours less a day, three days a week for preschool that their rate will go down. Ive explained to the parents about five times since asking about it that they need to refer to the handbook for my rates. It's still considered full time. I dont think they understand what part time and full time mean. I even sent home a copy of my rates and they still insist on enrolling her in preschool for the fall.

[Scribbles]

I dont think you should take it personally. A LOT of parents want the comfort and status of an official preschool with the structure, center feel, the actual building with the name on it. Sure they usually want their child to learn but most parents want something more. They like getting a little backpack, seeing their baby head off to preschool like a big kid, the activities and number of children and school feel of an actual preschool.

You can't provide that nor am I saying you should. Just keep in mind that the preschool thing is rarely about just learning, its more about the parents getting the experience.....not even so much about the kids.

Before I opened my child care I sent my kids to daycare. Even though the provider did educational activities, I still sent my kids to preschool.

My provider was great and I really liked her but I personally wanted my kids to have a teacher that taught kids of one age group.

I also wanted a teacher with a college degree.

Please don't flame me for that as I mean NO disrespect but it is how I felt at the time.

[melilley]

I'm not offended because by that time, I'm ready for them to leave

My thoughts to a T!!!!! I prefer the 3 and under crowd, and I mean the day they turn 3...

[Imagination's Creations]

Yes! But I try to shrug it off. I've learned that I can't please everyone.

I've also learned to be a better communicator about what we are actually learning and working on. In the past, the parents didn't even realize how much "preschool" we do here. Once I started communicating what we are learning, there seemed be much less talk of removing kids from my care to get them into a traditional preschool.

I do have one family who also takes their kids to preschool in addition to my care, but only because they feel that their children would feel like they missed out since their older siblings had gone to this same preschool (before they started in my program). They have told me on several occasions how advanced their child is in the preschool program, but they are sweet enough to give ME all the credit for it.

I have a child that has been with me since he was six months old. When he started Kinder, his teacher asked his mom where he went to preschool because he was advanced, and the mom was like "Oh, he goes to Imagination's Creations Daycare. She teaches preschool" It is a nice feeling when the parents give you the credit you deserve!

[Imagination's Creations]

Before I opened my child care I sent my kids to daycare. Even though the provider did educational activities, I still sent my kids to preschool.

My provider was great and I really liked her but I personally wanted my kids to have a teacher that taught kids of one age group.

I also wanted a teacher with a college degree.

Please don't flame me for that as I mean NO disrespect but it is how I felt at the time.

I understand what you're saying. I dont have a degree yet, but Im working on it slowly by taking night classes.

[Scribbles]

I understand what you're saying. I dont have a degree yet, but Im working on it slowly by taking night classes.

Now that I am on this end of things I dont feel that way anymore because I know what we do as providers and how kids learn but at the time I thought only someone with an actual degree is a teacher so maybe that is how patents think too...kwim?

[Imagination's Creations]

Not to mention....

Now that I am on this end of things I dont feel that way anymore because I know what we do as providers and how kids learn but at the time I thought only someone with an actual degree is a teacher so maybe that is how patents think too...kwim?

There are some child care providers that probably DONT do as much as I do with them. Also, if I weren't in this field, I would probably be sending mine to a traditional preschool as well. Just to make sure they're learning what they need to. I just think that based on what their daughter already knows, and how advance my own children are, that they can see Im preparing them. It just bothers me I guess. Like Im spending all this extra time/ money planning, making games and collecting materials and teaching them for it to not even count in the parents eyes. It kind of crushes my love of teaching it, you know?

[Blackcat31]

There are some child care providers that probably DONT do as much as I do with them. Also, if I weren't in this field, I would probably be sending mine to a traditional preschool as well. Just to make sure they're learning what they need to. I just think that based on what their daughter already knows, and how advance my own children are, that they can see Im preparing them. It just bothers me I guess. Like Im spending all this extra time/ money planning, making games and collecting materials and teaching them for it to not even count in the parents eyes. It kind of crushes my love of teaching it, you know?

THAT is the problem.

WE (providers) put that much into our relationship with a child/family and everything we do with them (the kids) but fail to remember that families don't invest that much into us...kwim?

That is why we (providers) are the ones left with hurt feelings when parents want to send their kids to preschool.

It doesn't really have anything to do with us personally from a parents' perspective. We just take it personal.

Hope that makes sense.

[melilley]

There are some child care providers that probably DONT do as much as I do with them. Also, if I weren't in this field, I would probably be sending mine to a traditional preschool as well. Just to make sure they're learning what they need to. I just think that based on what their daughter already knows, and how advance my own children are, that they can see Im preparing them. It just bothers me I guess. Like Im spending all this extra time/ money planning, making games and collecting materials and teaching them for it to not even count in the parents eyes. It kind of crushes my love of teaching it, you know?

POOEY on those parents who don't think you're "teaching" them. At least you know in your heart that you are making a difference., and I'm sure the children do too!

[Imagination's Creations]

THAT is the problem.

WE (providers) put that much into our relationship with a child/family and everything we do with them (the kids) but fail to remember that families don't invest that much into us...kwim?

That is why we (providers) are the ones left with hurt feelings when parents want to send their kids to preschool.

It doesn't really have anything to do with us personally from a parents' perspective. We just take it personal.

Hope that makes sense.

I totally agree. I probably over think these things and shouldnt take it personal, but it's hard not to.

[Imagination's Creations]

POOEY on those parents who don't think you're "teaching" them. At least you know in your heart that you are making a difference., and I'm sure the children do too!

Or when this same child "suddenly knows how to write her name"! Uhh, no. She's been doing that for six months now! I just smile and say "Yeah, we practice every day in PRESCHOOL". ::