Child Capabilities vs Parents Expectations...

[Controlled Chaos]

I send home a monthly newsletter that breaks down the learning through the play for parents. I would never do more worksheet per parent request! There's just no way. I did just add a ball tossing center and some heavy boxes in the post office dramatic play area after a chat with their child's behavior issues - he needs to kick and throw more and is doing so inappropriately as we have been cooped up inside too much - but that was problem solving within the realm of developmentally appropriate

Newsletter example:
This month’s theme is Love. We will be focusing on acts of kindness.
Literacy: We will be focusing on the letters V, X and O¬¬
Science: The children will experiment mixing colors using paint, food coloring and play-doh. For Groundhog’s Day we will play with flashlights to learn about shadows.
Math: We will play with items that are small, medium and large of varying weights. The children will practice number identification with a ball toss game.

[Ariana]

I run a play based program. I don't even allow "worksheets" to be mentioned by anyone in my home Research proves time and time again that kids need play to succeed. These parents are ridiculous and I would just tell them my program is not right for them. Find someone else to torture your kid.

[finsup]

I did/am doing a bit of all the suggestions here. I am taking time of photos during play etc and explain how kids are learning. I do think that's important to explain to parents because they don't always understand it. I do find myself getting frustrated because I hear the "yes, but..." Or "oh thats so true, but..." Over and over. But maybe one of these days enough "proof" will make it sink in.
But I'm not making him do the worksheets. Just sent a note explaing he was showing increasing frustration and stress when doing them and we could revisit it here as he gets older. If she wanted to attempt at home to check out the dollar store for worksheets and to keep me updated on how progress at home is going.
They may term or send him to "real" preschool but oh well. Pushing him to do work he is not capable of or ready for at all isn't fair to anyone. Thank you everyone!

[Thriftylady]

I did/am doing a bit of all the suggestions here. I am taking time of photos during play etc and explain how kids are learning. I do think that's important to explain to parents because they don't always understand it. I do find myself getting frustrated because I hear the "yes, but..." Or "oh thats so true, but..." Over and over. But maybe one of these days enough "proof" will make it sink in.
But I'm not making him do the worksheets. Just sent a note explaing he was showing increasing frustration and stress when doing them and we could revisit it here as he gets older. If she wanted to attempt at home to check out the dollar store for worksheets and to keep me updated on how progress at home is going.
They may term or send him to "real" preschool but oh well. Pushing him to do work he is not capable of or ready for at all isn't fair to anyone. Thank you everyone!

I tell all my parents at interview that much is learned through play and that forcing a child to do preschool work and them getting frustrated and angry defeats the purpose. Maybe you could tell them that, that his frustration makes him unable to learn.

[Josiegirl]

It's ironic but both my dds went to preschool. Back then it was only 2-3 mornings a week, a very nice stepping stone to Kindergarten. But I don't remember them ever bringing home 1 worksheet. They basically did the same thing I do here, practice their pre-literacy and pre-math skills, work on fine and large motor skills, etc. The main reason I sent both my dds was the socialization aspect of it. But of course education is changing so is this now a common practice...to send home worksheets??

[Thriftylady]

It's ironic but both my dds went to preschool. Back then it was only 2-3 mornings a week, a very nice stepping stone to Kindergarten. But I don't remember them ever bringing home 1 worksheet. They basically did the same thing I do here, practice their pre-literacy and pre-math skills, work on fine and large motor skills, etc. The main reason I sent both my dds was the socialization aspect of it. But of course education is changing so is this now a common practice...to send home worksheets??

Well I do know that kindergarten seems to require more and more each year. DH and I have talked about it seems they want parents to do what teachers used to do. I don't think it is because teachers aren't wanting to teach, but with all the darn standardized tests and such I think their time to teach has been cut short. So, parents are having to make up for that. I know even our Kindy and first graders do some testing here, I think that is part of the issue.