immersion preschool for first school experience - good idea?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it. I know it's very popular to do immersion prek and elementary school, but 2 is young, he's just beginning to be able to explain things to you, not have to tantrum to be understood, and you are setting him back.

Plus, I bet many of the children are already speaking the language at home - which is WHY those children are there.

AND - it's different if you send a baby at 3months to an immersion childcare - by 2 years old they are used to hearing the other language, and have been starting to use some words and phrases. But this child would be dropped into it.

And "immigrant children do it" isn't a great reason to do it - it's HARD, and they are UPSET a lot (for reasons above) and you need to really support them and help them.

I'm a former teacher and director. I've had many children at age 20 months, 2 years old, and nearly 3 years old, etc just dropped into my English only childcare - Japanese, French, Spanish, Greek and Mandarin. And, oh, my, those children cried and cried for WEEKS - they were afraid, they were not only having to learn how to play, share materials and space with other children, but ALSO they couldn't even understand the adults who were clearly telling them things and trying to comfort them!

I would NOT do it. There are wonderful programs out there that are in English and have space. Use one of those.