Skipping preschool altogether

[Anonymous]

My spouse has been staying at home with our almost 4 year old. We're doing okay on one salary, but going through the whole preschool screening thing in January and February is exhausting us already and we've only been to one school! Plus, it is SO expensive! We can afford it if we skip putting away money for retirement or for our son's college for a year, and one year isn't likely to hurt us THAT much in the long run.

Given that we don't need it for daycare, what are the benefits of sending a kid to preschool and is it really worth it? I mean, yeah socially it would be great, and he might do better socially in kindergarten, but seriously, I don't even remember kindergarten. He already knows his alphabet and can count and is learning how to read. Has anybody else just decided not to bother?

[Anonymous]

i think it's more for the social stuff and learning to be in a classroom type situation. if you think there are others ways to familiarize him with those things, probably not necessary. not sure i would worry about the academic piece. dc parks and recreation runs some very inexpensive coop preschools. about $7/day in the mornings. you could do something like that. or just something 2 mornings a week.

[Anonymous]

The experts say that you can skip it. Especially if the parents are college educated. That is, no difference in outcome.

[Anonymous]

My son went to one of those 3 hrs 3 times a week. He loved it, and did get a lot out of it. He enjoyed it, made friends, and learned to cooperate with other kids. It was a great experience.

In a perfect world, you probably could skip it. However, elementary school is really hard these days - it doesn't hurt the transition for your child to be more socialized.

I do remember kindergarten, and preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse has been staying at home with our almost 4 year old. We're doing okay on one salary, but going through the whole preschool screening thing in January and February is exhausting us already and we've only been to one school! Plus, it is SO expensive! We can afford it if we skip putting away money for retirement or for our son's college for a year, and one year isn't likely to hurt us THAT much in the long run.

Given that we don't need it for daycare, what are the benefits of sending a kid to preschool and is it really worth it? I mean, yeah socially it would be great, and he might do better socially in kindergarten, but seriously, I don't even remember kindergarten. He already knows his alphabet and can count and is learning how to read. Has anybody else just decided not to bother?

this post is somewhat shocking to me. maybe b/c i live in a neighborhood where children are starting preschool at 2 1/2 and 3, but i must say research shows preschool is so important for children. for so many reasons ie: social, learning, getting used to being around children all day and of course getting used to another adult being in charge of you. i would really rethink this. there are some really great preschools out that there are not that expensive. the early years of learning are so much more important, so invest in that more than college. besides singing the alphabet and numbers, make sure your child knows them all visually (when they are out of order as well). you can find a preschool for 5000 a year. that is not too expensive. what about your local school? some of them have good public preschools? good luck.

[Anonymous]

I would look at coops. They can be an inexpensive alternative for people who have extra time but not extra money. And there are advantages
to being involved.

[Anonymous]

"besides singing the alphabet and numbers, make sure your child knows them all visually (when they are out of order as well)"

Oh he's had that down for months. He's at the point where he knows all the sounds the letters make and can read simple three letter words. Counting wise he recognizes all the numbers on sight and counts objects, and can count to 30 except then he gets 30 and 40 mixed up. Is this about where most almost 4-year olds are?

Okay, the next question is where do you find out about all these great inexpensive preschools? Is there a list or a rating system you all use? We just moved here in September so we're still a bit lost on where to find all the kid stuff. I'm definitely going to check out the DC park thing, so thanks for the suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? I know a few very good and not too expensive choices in the Alexandria area. My mom told me that my brother and I started preschool (back when it was called nursery school at ages 4 and 3 respectively and we turned out fine. But these days kids go to kindergarten all day (if they go to public school). If that is the road you are planning on going, you might want a year of preschool to prepare. Going from being at home all day w/ a mom or dad to going to FT all day school might be a stretch. Plus, it gives kids are chance to learn non-academic things like getting along w/ other kids, sharing, taking turns, listening and following directions from a teacher, etc. My son is not yet 3 and knows tons of academic stuff (all upper and lowercase letters, can count to 20, etc etc) but there is not substitute for learning to play w/ others. There also aren't too many kids at age 4 around at home these days since they are all at school so there might not be much chance for your child to socialize.

[Anonymous]

re: dc parks and recreation
these are at most of the recreation centers in northwest. not sure where you are, but there's one at volta park in georgetown, one at stoddert, one at turtle park, palisades recreations center, chevy chase recreation center. easiest way to sign up is on line.

[Anonymous]

OP here,

we live in Takoma Park.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Coops are nice, so are classes such as gymnastics twice a week (cheap through Montgomery County). Also, play dates. But, I still wouldn't sweat it if you can't afford it. Talk talk talk to your child, let him/her help with chores, shopping, gardening. Go to school supply stores to get some teaching tools. Read read read to your child. The most important social event in a child's life is with the parents. Maximizing time at home with parents produces the children with highest self esteem. Stay at home kids are the luckiest.

[Anonymous]

Most of the Catholic schools have very inexpensive preschool available these days. Honestly, I felt like about age 2 my kids really looked forward to consistent interaction with kids their own age.