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too much curriculum!
Im registered, too, but I kinda worry about privacy issues when posting stuff like this. I work in a center, and with a group we call "Preschool", which is a mixture of 3's and 4's. Im my area, kids go to Head Start when they're three, a state-run pre-k program when they're four and kindy when they turn 5. Thats a LOT of school in their early childhood years. We dont push Head Start so much because it has weird hours, has a huge amount of paperwork and home visits for basically what they get at daycare. We DO encourage all of our kids to go to Pre-K, because it is a wonderful program.
When my kids leave me, they know all colors, shapes, numbers, animals, etc. They can write, recognize and spell their names, are completely potty trained and can clean up behind themselves, dress, and keep up with their own belongings. They are now learning to serve themselves at meals and assemble/disassemble naptime (less work for me, more fun for them). I am not in favor with inundating them with "learning" and "curriculums". If they learn the same thing with me, then again in Head Start, then again in Pre-K...they will be bored at some point.
I was told by my director that she felt the kids weren't "learning" enough and that she wanted so much of the playtime to stop and replaced with "learning times". I did not agree. My kids learn from their play, from me, from their environment, from each other. We have circle time where we focus on letters, colors, etc and different topics, based on what interests them, for 10 -15 mins a day. We do table work and art projects several times a week, and I send home "homework" once a week so parents can extend what we learned. I think that's enough for 3 year olds.
But honestly, I let them go back to their play. Kids this young NEED to play, not sit at tables several hours a day, being drilled on colors and shapes. At times, I feel bad for going against what my director said, but I know my kids and I felt worse forcing them to sit down and do worksheets and listen to me drone on about letters when they really wanted to play.
Im registered, too, but I kinda worry about privacy issues when posting stuff like this. I work in a center, and with a group we call "Preschool", which is a mixture of 3's and 4's. Im my area, kids go to Head Start when they're three, a state-run pre-k program when they're four and kindy when they turn 5. Thats a LOT of school in their early childhood years. We dont push Head Start so much because it has weird hours, has a huge amount of paperwork and home visits for basically what they get at daycare. We DO encourage all of our kids to go to Pre-K, because it is a wonderful program.
When my kids leave me, they know all colors, shapes, numbers, animals, etc. They can write, recognize and spell their names, are completely potty trained and can clean up behind themselves, dress, and keep up with their own belongings. They are now learning to serve themselves at meals and assemble/disassemble naptime (less work for me, more fun for them). I am not in favor with inundating them with "learning" and "curriculums". If they learn the same thing with me, then again in Head Start, then again in Pre-K...they will be bored at some point.
I was told by my director that she felt the kids weren't "learning" enough and that she wanted so much of the playtime to stop and replaced with "learning times". I did not agree. My kids learn from their play, from me, from their environment, from each other. We have circle time where we focus on letters, colors, etc and different topics, based on what interests them, for 10 -15 mins a day. We do table work and art projects several times a week, and I send home "homework" once a week so parents can extend what we learned. I think that's enough for 3 year olds.
But honestly, I let them go back to their play. Kids this young NEED to play, not sit at tables several hours a day, being drilled on colors and shapes. At times, I feel bad for going against what my director said, but I know my kids and I felt worse forcing them to sit down and do worksheets and listen to me drone on about letters when they really wanted to play.
I say that with a smile as you are all "teaching" children life skills. This is so important to young children. I am a director in a corporate setting, but I still understand your dilemmas. It is hard to hold that balance between what parents want and what is right. Without life skills, patience, sharing and self-help, the actual ABC's and such will do them no good. Children learn through Play. BRAVO to those who use NAEYC's literature about Playing. I have these conversations daily with parents who want two year olds reading. Children must learn about themselves and the world around them first. I don't think any kindergarten teacher would disagree with the fact they would rather have a well-rounded, socially adept child than an out of control, insecure child who has the academics down. Don't downplay your value, there is a lot of learning every day in ordinary life. 
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