Reply to Help: What does "play-based" even mean?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Yes, ideally it is about balance. But if the preschool does not have properly educated/experienced staff, more damage can be done by pushing academics than in a play-based environment. I would steer away from an academic preschool unless I trust the competency of the staff. At least one person in a preschool should have early education credentials, and I know at least one preschool where that is not the case. 
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I actually disagree. My son is at a preschool with no staff with ECE credentials, and it is SO MUCH better in every way than the preschool that had credentialed staff.  In a best case scenario, long-time childcare workers without degrees are just good with kids (and, more importantly, managing classrooms competently.)  On the other hand, an indexperienced but credentialed teacher can be a nightmare.  And pushing "academics" at least means that the staff is engaged with the kids, as opposed to letting them go all lord of the flies.  [/quote]

Of course, it is not 100% one way or the other. Our experience with "academic" preschool was not engagement, more of pushing worksheets and not developing curiosity or learning skills, but[b] drilling children specific assigned tasks, that seemed very inappropriate for preschoolers[/b]. We are in a play-based preschool now with staff mostly with no ECE credentials and it is fantastic. [/quote]

Was it the worksheets themselves that you consider very inappropriate, or what they were asked to do on the worksheet that wasn't appropriate for pre-schoolers? I really don't get the hysteria over having 4 year olds do a few worksheets.  Honestly, I think having a preschooler trace a few letters on a worksheet is a more effective and efficient way to have them learn to write their letters than handing them some shaving cream and hoping they will be inspired to use it for such a  purpose.  Not to mention, the pre-schools that would dare give a 4 year old tracing worksheets, typically do let them play with shaving cream as well. [/quote]

It is hard to explain if you have not been in the same situation. By all means, do what is right for your young child to thrive. [/quote]

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