What would you do? The opposite of redshirting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^Oops, missed the fact that you explained he was in a daycare center, not preschool. Why didn't you say so in your original post?

What does his daycare usually do with kids with fall birthdays? He can't be the first kid to have moved up to the "preK" class when he turned 4, only to miss the K cutoff for the fall. I think this is why a lot of places have two separate classes, a fours class and then an older pre-K class.

+1. What does the daycare usually do, OP? This has to have happened before, at a daycare center with lots of kids.

They would be very happy to have him repeat the preK year, perhaps with some pull-out activities or similar. I just don't want him to repeat a year. I think he's ready for something else.

... so they DO have separate programs available for the older kids, you just think he is too smart for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you did your kid a disservice by placing him in such an academically rigorous program as a toddler. You say you want to do what is best but evidence shows play based learning is best for young kids. To answer you original question. The absolute only way you will find out is calling the principal and even if they say ok, you have to count on principals not changing before your kid actually starts at that school. You could always just private forever though.

I am not sure why you say that. The purpose of preschools isn't to carve children into whatever mold FCPS has issued; it's to provide an appropriately structured engagement that helps children learn and grow. The fact that he learned lots of things at preschool doesn't mean he learned it while chained to his desk. They do maybe an hour of "academics" a day - the rest of the day is all play during which they learn lots of things.

How many hours a day is your kid in preschool? Are you sure you don't mean daycare with an academic model? I'm very impressed that a school is teaching toddlers to read in multiple languages through play.

It's a full-time program, a preschool/daycare model - academics & play in the morning, more play/activities after lunch. Same as every other full-time facility with "preschool" in its name. A four-year old is hardly a toddler.

So they do zero academic work until the kids move up to the four year old group, then they teach them to read and write in two languages in a year?

You just keep making things up, don't you? Literacy is a continuum. I never said zero academic work happens before the pre-K class. The 3-year olds may learn ABCs, blocks, songs, cards, what have you. The 4-year olds learn to write, learn to read simple words, review word families. The goal is to promote literacy in age-appropriate ways, and kids move toward this goal in age-appropriate steps. Some arrive faster.

This all sounds age-inappropriate to me, but obviously there's a market for it. (Flashcards for 3 year olds? Teaching 4 year olds to read?). Sad.

Yeah none of that is really age appropriate. Not to say some kids don't learn to read at that point, but that level of teaching really isn't backed by research at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there so much snark towards the OP regarding this issue? She simply wants the option of sending her kid early just as people have the option of sending their kids later? Why are so many posters appearing to have a problem with that? I don't understand. Is there a reason people don't their children being in the same class with younger children who may be on the same level as their older children?

If the cut off on the last day of the month, are many of you saying that there is a big difference in preparedness of a child born 1-30 days later?

What's the issue?

I couldn't care less when people start their kids in K, younger/older/on time. I think OP is just rubbing people the wrong way. If she had phrased her question and her subsequent posts differently, there wouldn't be 12 pages of people snickering at her.

Ok. So it's just the OP people have a problem with? People are OK with parents that want to have their kids test in early DOB is close to the cut-off date. Thanks. I really wasn't getting that part.

I think most people are fine with that, if parents can deal with it maybe not being an option. OP wants to be sure she is entitled to it, and she isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is there so much snark towards the OP regarding this issue? She simply wants the option of sending her kid early just as people have the option of sending their kids later? Why are so many posters appearing to have a problem with that? I don't understand. Is there a reason people don't their children being in the same class with younger children who may be on the same level as their older children?

If the cut off on the last day of the month, are many of you saying that there is a big difference in preparedness of a child born 1-30 days later?

What's the issue?

I couldn't care less when people start their kids in K, younger/older/on time. I think OP is just rubbing people the wrong way. If she had phrased her question and her subsequent posts differently, there wouldn't be 12 pages of people snickering at her.

Ok. So it's just the OP people have a problem with? People are OK with parents that want to have their kids test in early DOB is close to the cut-off date. Thanks. I really wasn't getting that part.

I can only speak for myself, not "people", but why would anyone care if a younger, more immature child is included in the class? It does suck for the little kid in lots of ways, though, and that's what most of the anti-starting-early crowd has pointed out. It sounds like OP just has one child, and many posters on here have a lot more experience with kids at lots of different ages and how being much younger could be a disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^Oops, missed the fact that you explained he was in a daycare center, not preschool. Why didn't you say so in your original post?

What does his daycare usually do with kids with fall birthdays? He can't be the first kid to have moved up to the "preK" class when he turned 4, only to miss the K cutoff for the fall. I think this is why a lot of places have two separate classes, a fours class and then an older pre-K class.

+1. What does the daycare usually do, OP? This has to have happened before, at a daycare center with lots of kids.

They would be very happy to have him repeat the preK year, perhaps with some pull-out activities or similar. I just don't want him to repeat a year. I think he's ready for something else.

... so they DO have separate programs available for the older kids, you just think he is too smart for it?

NP-no, it sounds like they just stick the fall birthday kids back in the same pre-K class again. Not a very well thought out program IMO. Wonder what else they do that sucks.

[Anonymous]

A lot of daycares have figured out that a certain kind of parent will pay more tuition and be more interested in a daycare that sells itself as a "school" with lots of academic advantages. OP has clearly fallen hook line and sinker for their marketing, and now thinks her kid is so much smarter than everyone else that he needs to jump ahead a grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^Oops, missed the fact that you explained he was in a daycare center, not preschool. Why didn't you say so in your original post?

What does his daycare usually do with kids with fall birthdays? He can't be the first kid to have moved up to the "preK" class when he turned 4, only to miss the K cutoff for the fall. I think this is why a lot of places have two separate classes, a fours class and then an older pre-K class.

+1. What does the daycare usually do, OP? This has to have happened before, at a daycare center with lots of kids.

They would be very happy to have him repeat the preK year, perhaps with some pull-out activities or similar. I just don't want him to repeat a year. I think he's ready for something else.

... so they DO have separate programs available for the older kids, you just think he is too smart for it?

NP-no, it sounds like they just stick the fall birthday kids back in the same pre-K class again. Not a very well thought out program IMO. Wonder what else they do that sucks.

Sounds like a lot of worksheets and flashcards. Poor kids. I hope they don't do double the worksheets and double the flashcards since they are teaching two languages. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^Oops, missed the fact that you explained he was in a daycare center, not preschool. Why didn't you say so in your original post?

What does his daycare usually do with kids with fall birthdays? He can't be the first kid to have moved up to the "preK" class when he turned 4, only to miss the K cutoff for the fall. I think this is why a lot of places have two separate classes, a fours class and then an older pre-K class.

+1. What does the daycare usually do, OP? This has to have happened before, at a daycare center with lots of kids.

They would be very happy to have him repeat the preK year, perhaps with some pull-out activities or similar. I just don't want him to repeat a year. I think he's ready for something else.

... so they DO have separate programs available for the older kids, you just think he is too smart for it?

NP-no, it sounds like they just stick the fall birthday kids back in the same pre-K class again. Not a very well thought out program IMO. Wonder what else they do that sucks.

It sounds like they will pull him out for enrichment so he won't be bored but yeah, overall doesn't sounds great. There are too many daycares out there that try to fill the time with age inappropriate academics unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you know why? They are easier. It is so much easier to fill 30 minutes with nice, neat, quiet worksheets (with just one worker supervising while the other one gets a break or whatever) then messy painting (the hassle! the clean up!), playdoh (gets everywhere! now you gotta vacuum), free time at the playground or walking to the park (now the workers have to go outside and its drizzling/hot/cold), elaborate pretend play areas (someone has to be creative enough to set them up, and then ya gotta clean it up).

Academic work is easier on the staff.

-Signed, someone who worked at daycares after school in high school.

OP isn't talking about 30 minutes and too bad if it is easier, who cares?

PP is right about a particular kind of parent. There is only one bilingual daycare masquerading as a preschool with a heavy focus on academics in the FFX County area that I am aware of and based on reviews I would never send my kid there (though it seems ideal for someone looking to churn out a little Einstein at all costs.)

[Anonymous]

I can't say I blame the daycare workers. That is a lot of day to fill. My kids went to an awesome 3 hour coop preschool and I was completely wiped out after cleaning up on my volunteer days. Age-appropriate activities are a lot of work for adults!

[Anonymous]

The only one I know of is Communikids, and I would never send my kid there. Bad rep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only one I know of is Communikids, and I would never send my kid there. Bad rep.

Communikids and early steps are the only ones I know and I wouldn't send my kids to either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't say I blame the daycare workers. That is a lot of day to fill. My kids went to an awesome 3 hour coop preschool and I was completely wiped out after cleaning up on my volunteer days. Age-appropriate activities are a lot of work for adults!

Mine also went to a co op and I totally agree, but free play, quiet reading/looking at books, etc are also an option. Plus if they are teaching reading (not just handing out worksheets) it seems they're still having to do something ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only one I know of is Communikids, and I would never send my kid there. Bad rep.

Communikids and early steps are the only ones I know and I wouldn't send my kids to either.

Yeah, I was at a playground in North Arlington once at the same time as a group from Early Steps and the teacher definitely spoke the international language of Yell, Yell, Yell. It was pathetic.