Preschool parents/teachers - favorite age?

[Anonymous]

My kids are in MS/HS and I’m leaving the elementary school where I work now as a sub to become a 1/2 day preschool teacher at my kids’ former preschool. The school has a few openings and has basically asked my age preference for the kids.

What should I say? I’m somewhat inclined to say the littlest ones (2.5) but I worry that I’m remembering it with rose colored glasses. What is your favorite age from 2.5-5 and why?

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I love 2 and 3 year olds 1:1, but 4 year olds are much more fun in a group.

-- someone who has taught every age

[Anonymous]

The age where potty training is required to attend school. My child’s private preschool required kids to be potty trained by age 3. Not having to deal with diapers/pull ups is a huge benefit of teaching older kids.

[Anonymous]

None. I only work with 6weeks -24 months anything else raises my blood pressure too stressful dealing with tantrums potty training etc

[Anonymous]

For preschool setting I’d choose 3/4/5. 1:1 I’d take 1-3.

[Anonymous]

I have taught all ages and prefer 4. I feel like that is when their personalities start developing more and you can have super fun conversations with them. They also are more independent and are able to complete 2 step instructions which makes the day more fluid. Coming from Elementary - it will be a big jump back to the little ones. It is way more work in a class setting than 5/6 year olds

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have taught all ages and prefer 4. I feel like that is when their personalities start developing more and you can have super fun conversations with them. They also are more independent and are able to complete 2 step instructions which makes the day more fluid. Coming from Elementary - it will be a big jump back to the little ones. It is way more work in a class setting than 5/6 year olds

Agree on the personality thing. Some 4 yr olds can be hard, but in general I find them more rewarding because they are more aware of the world and you see big growth in their understanding. It's really fun to watch that develop. 2/3 yr olds are maybe a little sweeter but it's also kind of groundhog's day with them.

Also from a job satisfaction perspective, the 4 yr olds you work with will remember you and remember stuff that happened in your classroom a few years later. So when you see them later they'll remember you and that's really fun. Younger kids often don't remember classroom caregivers even the next year. Some do but some don't but it's not the same experience. I like the idea that things kids learn in a 4s classroom stick with them and shape who they are as role in a more concrete way (younger kids are also shaped by classroom experiences but it's by osmosis and it's more just that they need a generally safe and nurturing environment).