Preschool - stay or find a new one?

[Anonymous]

My 4YO DS currently attends a play-based nature outdoor preschool and LOVES it. They are outside 100% of the time (unless it's too dangerous to be outside) so they don't do any "formal" school things (like learning how to write or hold a pencil) but I have no doubt he's learning (they read books, sing songs, he's using gross and fine motor skills). He's turning 5 in September and we have made the decision to enroll him in another year of preschool instead of sending him to K (he's not ready and I'm worried the K class will be HUGE next year with all the kids who were redshirted this year) and debating if we should keep him enrolled in his current school or find a more formal school-like program. This year was his first experience at school, he has always been cared for by a nanny and was a very anxious baby/toddler who took forever to potty train so we didn't enroll him anywhere.

I do think he could use a bit of extra help, he's nowhere near where my 6YO DS was at that age (who attended a more formal preschool in our last town) and started K virtually this year and has done great. But at the same time, does he NEED that? DH thinks we should find a new preschool but I'm not so sure.

Would love any opinions!

[Anonymous]

I’m considering pulling my 3-year old from a more formal program for a play-based program. Your kid will likely be “behind” if you redshirt and leave him in their current school, but he’ll probably also be in a better place emotionally and developmentally and in a better position to catch up. Kindergarten used to be a place for 5 year olds to go to learn how to be in school. Now we pack the room full of 6 and 7 year olds and expect them to read, write, add, etc. It’s a real shame, and if you look at how we are performing compared to other countries that take a more developmentally appropriate approach to early child education, completely ineffective and pointless.

[Anonymous]

You can have a play-based preschool that teaches kids how to hold a crayon and use scissors correctly - they are only doing these things to do art projects and doodle, so it's not really formal learning - yet it's a very important skill to learn early, before bad habits form. If they don't know how to hold a crayon correctly, this will translate into not knowing how to hold a pencil correctly, which causes their hand to get really tired when they do a lot of writing later on in Elementary School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m considering pulling my 3-year old from a more formal program for a play-based program. Your kid will likely be “behind” if you redshirt and leave him in their current school, but he’ll probably also be in a better place emotionally and developmentally and in a better position to catch up. Kindergarten used to be a place for 5 year olds to go to learn how to be in school. Now we pack the room full of 6 and 7 year olds and expect them to read, write, add, etc. It’s a real shame, and if you look at how we are performing compared to other countries that take a more developmentally appropriate approach to early child education, completely ineffective and pointless.

I couldn’t agree with you more.

[Anonymous]

Former preschool teacher here—I would stay with the outdoor school! It sounds amazing. I would work on pencil grip at home (use small golf pencils or broken crayons), but otherwise he will be fine in Kindergarten with the other preschool skills (waiting, taking turns, sharing).

[Anonymous]

Your current school sounds exactly like where my older kids went (and youngest is enrolled). My older kids go to a private that’s fairly rigorous. I was nervous when they were in K and went to the first parent teacher conference scared of how behind. The teacher told me they can easily teach the academics but they can’t teach the curiosity, play skills, kindness, interest in nature, etc that my kids had learned at the nature school. Everyone catches up academically at some point over k & 1st. Remember some kids will start k as their first school ever.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you need to do anything.
BUT, if you WANT to do some basic letters and numbers, I've had a lot of fun doing blossom and root preK with my 4 yo this year. The letter and numbers lesson are very "gentle," and each one takes max 10 mins a day.

[Anonymous]

I'm bias because my child is at a similar school (maybe the same one??) but I would keep him. He won't get that year back and like everyone has said the skills he will build will last a long time, he will have plenty of time for the more formal schooling type things.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you all! This is exactly what I needed to hear.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely not send him to this year. He has time, give him that gift. This is a terrible year to be entering K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m considering pulling my 3-year old from a more formal program for a play-based program. Your kid will likely be “behind” if you redshirt and leave him in their current school, but he’ll probably also be in a better place emotionally and developmentally and in a better position to catch up. Kindergarten used to be a place for 5 year olds to go to learn how to be in school. Now we pack the room full of 6 and 7 year olds and expect them to read, write, add, etc. It’s a real shame, and if you look at how we are performing compared to other countries that take a more developmentally appropriate approach to early child education, completely ineffective and pointless.

Genuine question: How does Kindergarten end up with 6 and 7 years old? is that normal? My kid is entering K next year and I confused by OP's statement.

[Anonymous]

There are no 7 year olds, but could have 6 year olds who are close to turning 7 (like in the summer...let’s say they were red shirted and turned 6 the July before they started k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no 7 year olds, but could have 6 year olds who are close to turning 7 (like in the summer...let’s say they were red shirted and turned 6 the July before they started k.

My son is in K this year (turned 6 last week) and I couldn't believe how many of the kids in the class were already 6 when the year started. A lot of July/Aug/Sept birthdays.

[Anonymous]

I'd work with him on recognizing the letters of the alphabet and maybe start with sounds they make. Work on pencil and scissor holding at home. He should be able to count to 20 and maybe understand basic one to one correlation.

This is the one time in his life he'll be able to do the play based thing. And he will be richer for it. You can work this stuff in at other times, 5-10 minutes here or there.

Some of the biggest stuff for K, is knowing how to be a part of a class room, understanding class organization and how to put on his own jacket and zip it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no 7 year olds, but could have 6 year olds who are close to turning 7 (like in the summer...let’s say they were red shirted and turned 6 the July before they started k.

My son is in K this year (turned 6 last week) and I couldn't believe how many of the kids in the class were already 6 when the year started. A lot of July/Aug/Sept birthdays.

Eh my daughter is a July birthday that went to K on time, and she's thriving (she's in 1st this year). A 7 year old has no place in kindergarten.