The "Preschool" War

[Thriftylady]

So I have been working pretty hard the last few weeks getting lesson plans and themes ready for summer, and extended that to preschool for the year. I feel pretty good about what I have gotten together. I believe in letting children learn first from play and as an adult, paying attention and talking to them about what they are doing and what they can learn at the PreK age. I do 30-40 minutes a day of "preschool". This spring I have had one PreK kiddo who loves "school" time so there have been days we have done a little more, but not a horrible amount I am also teaching this child to play, rather than sit on the floor and look at a toy. (I have pressed for an assessment but can't make them do it). So, I do believe in teaching, but not in the way parents think it needs to happen.

But it made me wonder, with the push for "preschool" how do we convince parents that much of what they think the kiddos need is not age appropriate? This is after talking to the mother of a newly 4 YO girl the other day who was beside herself because she couldn't get her child to do worksheets. It also reminded me of a 3YO I had part of the winter who was in our schools half day pre K. This child came home with "homework" daily. Always worksheets, or art that was beyond her. Around Christmas, she came home with a blank paper plate. She was to cut and glue it in a way it became an angel. There were instructions with pictures. The teachers sent that one home to be redone because the one in class didn't work well. I wonder why?:confused: They really expect a child who is 3 to cut a paper plate and turn it into an angel with no adult intervention?

So my question is with all the push for Pre K, how do we as providers get parents to understand (and believe) that things like pushing worksheets, and art a child can't possibly do is causing more harm than good? I want to use this information to draw parents to my program, in which we do what I believe is age appropriate Pre K. But I am not sure how to do it!

[Baby Beluga]

So I have been working pretty hard the last few weeks getting lesson plans and themes ready for summer, and extended that to preschool for the year. I feel pretty good about what I have gotten together. I believe in letting children learn first from play and as an adult, paying attention and talking to them about what they are doing and what they can learn at the PreK age. I do 30-40 minutes a day of "preschool". This spring I have had one PreK kiddo who loves "school" time so there have been days we have done a little more, but not a horrible amount I am also teaching this child to play, rather than sit on the floor and look at a toy. (I have pressed for an assessment but can't make them do it). So, I do believe in teaching, but not in the way parents think it needs to happen.

But it made me wonder, with the push for "preschool" how do we convince parents that much of what they think the kiddos need is not age appropriate? This is after talking to the mother of a newly 4 YO girl the other day who was beside herself because she couldn't get her child to do worksheets. It also reminded me of a 3YO I had part of the winter who was in our schools half day pre K. This child came home with "homework" daily. Always worksheets, or art that was beyond her. Around Christmas, she came home with a blank paper plate. She was to cut and glue it in a way it became an angel. There were instructions with pictures. The teachers sent that one home to be redone because the one in class didn't work well. I wonder why?:confused: They really expect a child who is 3 to cut a paper plate and turn it into an angel with no adult intervention?

So my question is with all the push for Pre K, how do we as providers get parents to understand (and believe) that things like pushing worksheets, and art a child can't possibly do is causing more harm than good? I want to use this information to draw parents to my program, in which we do what I believe is age appropriate Pre K. But I am not sure how to do it!

Unfortunately it is an uphill battle. I think parents think school = sitting and worksheets. Usually that does not work for many kids. One thing that helps me is to explain to parents that many little ones are kinesthetic learners, they need to use their bodies to learn. I explain to parents that I we don't worksheets. Instead we...

Use our fingers to write letters and numbers in cornmeal or mold them with playdough.

We form letters/numbers with our bodies.

I tape our monthly learning goals onto the floor (2 numbers, 2 letters, 1 shape, 1 color, etc) and we play freeze dance. When the music stops you find a learning goal to stand on and you tell me what it is. Rinse and repeat.

Our learning goals always find their way into our sensory bins. This week we are focusing on space. So I have glow in the dark planets, pom poms in the color we are learning about this month, the shape we are learning about this month, foam letters that spell "space" and the numbers we are learning about this month in a bin full of water beads.

When I explain it this way to potential clients, it seems to help a little more.

[Miss A]

Check out your local CCR&R website for articles on the importance of play. My local CCR&R website is full of resources, and I have a wonderful CCR&R consultant who makes herself available to be to brainstorm ways to best express the benefits of my program.

Also, the NAEYC website has a great section on play, www.naeyc.org/play

Also, do some research on Piaget. I find that my views on childcare sync up most with his theories, and I always find it refreshing to see my ideals backed up by someone who really understand the mind of a child.

[Snowmom]

So I have been working pretty hard the last few weeks getting lesson plans and themes ready for summer, and extended that to preschool for the year. I feel pretty good about what I have gotten together. I believe in letting children learn first from play and as an adult, paying attention and talking to them about what they are doing and what they can learn at the PreK age. I do 30-40 minutes a day of "preschool". This spring I have had one PreK kiddo who loves "school" time so there have been days we have done a little more, but not a horrible amount I am also teaching this child to play, rather than sit on the floor and look at a toy. (I have pressed for an assessment but can't make them do it). So, I do believe in teaching, but not in the way parents think it needs to happen.

But it made me wonder, with the push for "preschool" how do we convince parents that much of what they think the kiddos need is not age appropriate? This is after talking to the mother of a newly 4 YO girl the other day who was beside herself because she couldn't get her child to do worksheets. It also reminded me of a 3YO I had part of the winter who was in our schools half day pre K. This child came home with "homework" daily. Always worksheets, or art that was beyond her. Around Christmas, she came home with a blank paper plate. She was to cut and glue it in a way it became an angel. There were instructions with pictures. The teachers sent that one home to be redone because the one in class didn't work well. I wonder why?:confused: They really expect a child who is 3 to cut a paper plate and turn it into an angel with no adult intervention?

So my question is with all the push for Pre K, how do we as providers get parents to understand (and believe) that things like pushing worksheets, and art a child can't possibly do is causing more harm than good? I want to use this information to draw parents to my program, in which we do what I believe is age appropriate Pre K. But I am not sure how to do it!

In my best minion voice to the bolded.... whaaaaat?

I get sending things home for FUN, but seriously, wth.

I offer a "preschool" program and we do everything together as a group, so even my 2 year olds get in on the fun.
With that said however, I tell the parents that the kids won't always be taking physical projects home from our days because much of what we learn is through play. I will give them examples when we talk and I frequently take pictures and videos and post them on my password protected website for them (and point out why that activity was a "learning" one).

You could always send home "learn through play" articles, IF you have parents who are actually interested in reading them.
You could do a quick snip-it with your daily communication with them (think like communication board/bulletin board).
You could text links to articles or webpages.

You'll get some parents who will pick up on it. But until the consensus changes as a whole, it's going to be hard. Even licensing (here) is pushing for more and more school. They even just changed our elementary school hours for next year to be increased by 1/2 hour. Which I personally think is harsh for a kindergartner.

[Blackcat31]

So my question is with all the push for Pre K, how do we as providers get parents to understand (and believe) that things like pushing worksheets, and art a child can't possibly do is causing more harm than good?

When you figure out that answer you'll have to share it.

Even the government doesn't think "PLAY" is appropriate.

That has been a question asked over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over..... you get the point........ and I've never seen anyone have an answer.

At least not one that is accepted, believed or supported by the masses.

[Thriftylady]

In my best minion voice to the bolded.... whaaaaat?

I get sending things home for FUN, but seriously, wth.

They sent home homework every day, but that one took the cake. How in the heck is a 3 year old supposed to look at a picture and turn a paper plate into it? And because the teachers couldn't get the kids to make it work at school they sent it home! They also got "bribed" to do their homework with little prizes and candy. I just think homework for a 3 year old is nuts though no matter what it is.

At least not one that is accepted, believed or supported by the masses.

My first thought to this is I don't care about the masses, just my potential clients, however they are probably following the masses.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Maybe it's the circle I'm in, but I have seen a rising trend in the primal/paleo parenting movement. Healthy, natural foods, lots of play and movement, a connection to their environment, ect. I think there will always be that segment of the population who force the academic stuff, but I'm not sure their minds could be changed anyway. Our preschools around here are a few hours 2/3 days a week, so they are more about fun and being creative. They paint, play music, do all sorts of crafts and manipulative play with play dough, clay, ect. They are having a picnic in the park today to celebrate the last day

Now, kindergarten is another story. My son comes home with a worksheet every day and about 10 others he did during the day. I don't remember doing so many worksheets when I was young, but back then kindergarten was more like our preschool and we only went half a day. My mom did preschool stuff at her daycare, but preschool was much less of the "neccessity" parents feel it is today.

[Thriftylady]

Maybe it's the circle I'm in, but I have seen a rising trend in the primal/paleo parenting movement. Healthy, natural foods, lots of play and movement, a connection to their environment, ect. I think there will always be that segment of the population who force the academic stuff, but I'm not sure their minds could be changed anyway. Our preschools around here are a few hours 2/3 days a week, so they are more about fun and being creative. They paint, play music, do all sorts of crafts and manipulative play with play dough, clay, ect. They are having a picnic in the park today to celebrate the last day

Now, kindergarten is another story. My son comes home with a worksheet every day and about 10 others he did during the day. I don't remember doing so many worksheets when I was young, but back then kindergarten was more like our preschool and we only went half a day. My mom did preschool stuff at her daycare, but preschool was much less of the "neccessity" parents feel it is today.

I wish there were people in my area more like that. I am not totally "anti" preschool. I think kids need to be ready to learn when they start school, so some basic skills like colors, a little counting, maybe some letter recognition and such is a good thing. But now they want them to start kindy knowing stuff I don't remember learning in Kindy it seems. I call what I teach "light" preschool .

[Unregistered]

I have found that having written curriculum (almost exclusively play-based - one in a great while there is a "craft" rather than open-ended art, or a printed sheet of pics to match up) has helped my families stop worrying about preschool.

I also post notes or email info about how pre-literacy learning works, the values of block play, etc. - but only every other month or so, or they get stuffed in the bottom of a backpack.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

When you figure out that answer you'll have to share it.

Even the government doesn't think "PLAY" is appropriate.

That has been a question asked over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over..... you get the point........ and I've never seen anyone have an answer.

At least not one that is accepted, believed or supported by the masses.

exactly! I had parents that were totally happy with my care and what their dd was learning until their dd was turning 4 then within the month they had "found a spot" at a preschool even though she wouldn't be going to kindergarten for another year and a half! Whosh... she was gone in February. They were worried she wouldn't be "ready" for kindergarten! Even though she already knew most of her letters etc all through play. <sigh>

[Annalee]

exactly! I had parents that were totally happy with my care and what their dd was learning until their dd was turning 4 then within the month they had "found a spot" at a preschool even though she wouldn't be going to kindergarten for another year and a half! Whosh... she was gone in February. They were worried she wouldn't be "ready" for kindergarten! Even though she already knew most of her letters etc all through play. <sigh>

I do feel some parents 'get it' with the 'play thing'.....but all they hear from society is academics locally, state-wide and nationally.....it is confusing....it is almost like peer pressure for parents..... It is not an easy fix and it may even be unfixable (if that's a word):: It is not just about preschool, it is about FREE pre-k. No one can compete with FREE! :confused:

[Josiegirl]

I do feel some parents 'get it' with the 'play thing'.....but all they hear from society is academics locally, state-wide and nationally.....it is confusing....it is almost like peer pressure for parents..... It is not an easy fix and it may even be unfixable (if that's a word):: It is not just about preschool, it is about FREE pre-k. No one can compete with FREE! :confused:

Exactly!! That word free means a lot to most parents! Especially because by that time they might have a younger one joining the family, as is the case of a few of my dcfs.

[Unregistered]

Ok, from a parents' perspective, kindergartens are freaking us out. My daughter starts this fall and I just went to her orientation. They gave us a list of things she needs to know and gave us a break down of what her day will look like. No kidding- it's 3 hours of "literacy" and 2 hours of math. Then they break into specials- whether it be science, gym, computer, etc. They are expected to sit at a desk all day and we were told to look around and take note that there are no toys. We were also told that they begin getting kids used to having their work graded, and will attached rubrics to their worksheets. I'm terrified for my child and cried the entire way home. (I'm in Philadelphia, horrible schools overall, but lucky to be in one of the best elementary schools)

[Annalee]

Ok, from a parents' perspective, kindergartens are freaking us out. My daughter starts this fall and I just went to her orientation. They gave us a list of things she needs to know and gave us a break down of what her day will look like. No kidding- it's 3 hours of "literacy" and 2 hours of math. Then they break into specials- whether it be science, gym, computer, etc. They are expected to sit at a desk all day and we were told to look around and take note that there are no toys. We were also told that they begin getting kids used to having their work graded, and will attached rubrics to their worksheets. I'm terrified for my child and cried the entire way home. (I'm in Philadelphia, horrible schools overall, but lucky to be in one of the best elementary schools)

Kindy teachers tell me that if I can teach a child to follow directions, respect others, responsibility, etc. which can be taught through play, then the teachers can teach the child. BUT if a child comes in that has NOT learned those social-emotional life skills, then the teaching can be difficult. ABC's/123's are important and my daycare kids learn those here, but they learn it all through play. If the nation takes away our ability to teach social emotional skill we will have a bunch of electronic no-emotion robotic kids running around. That is scary!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wish there were people in my area more like that. I am not totally "anti" preschool. I think kids need to be ready to learn when they start school, so some basic skills like colors, a little counting, maybe some letter recognition and such is a good thing. But now they want them to start kindy knowing stuff I don't remember learning in Kindy it seems. I call what I teach "light" preschool .

I run a preschool program out of my home and I don't do worksheets.
We do hands on activities to create letters and numbers, much like another poster mentioned. I have out trays that show what we do on the table during interviews and mention how developmentally inappropriate worksheets are, how I never noticed any long term learning occurring when I did utilize them, and how research has shown time and time again that they are simply not an effective teaching method and are, in reality, the lazy way out. Parents faces are usually shocked and as they see me show them how my kids learn here they seem to have a lightbulb moment. Perhaps if you could actually show them then your potential clients would get it better.

I also keep them informed about our state's pre-k standards (20 letter names and sounds, for example) so they can monitor if their child is doing what the STATE wants them to do.
All I expect to see is progress over the course of the year. If there's no progress then I discuss it with the parent and it's usually because they are simply watching TV/playing video games at home and not actually engaging in the world or books. That "illness" clears up quickly and they start making actual progress (how fast or how slow is dependent on the child, of course) when they curb the amount they use screens.