Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t listen to these ridiculous posters, the handwringing over anxious preschoolers completing reams of worksheets is just a reflection of parents worried other kids are outpacing their own. My child went to an academic preschool where they played but also spent an hour writing, reading (letter sounds) and adding small numbers. My child also *gasp* spent 30 minutes at home practicing phonics and a K math book daily. When did he play? The rest of the whole day! He missed absolutely nothing, and went into K reading chapter books. I really don’t get the Only Play thing with kids.

Ok, but what did he gain by going into K reading chapter books? That’s the point. Kids have the entire rest of their schooling to sit at desks and read. They have a very short time when they can play all day. Most of the kindergarten classrooms in Arlington don’t even have toys because there is no time in the day for playing; it’s all academics. Let the preschoolers play!

This is the problem: somehow there exists this idea that children who advance early aren’t playing and I’m honestly puzzled how this myth has survived so long. A four year old can learn how to read in 10 minutes a day. A year of that, and the child can read at a 2nd grade level. Preschool is the best time to learn. The child has no pressure and endless time. You know when the worst time to read begins? When they are sitting in a classroom with 26 other noisy children for 8 hours a day with a report card detailing their progress. If you don’t see the benefits for a young child to be able to pick up any book in their library and understand it independently, then we don’t share the same views on parenting. And that’s okay, that’s exactly why preschools offer different curricula.

NP. My child is at play based preschool- he likes it and we have no intention of moving. That being said, he loves us reading books to him at night and has expressed interest in being able to read the words himself. When you say a child can be taught to read in 10 minutes a day, do you have specific recommendations of how we could do this at home?

Yes. First, the only requirement to be able to read is the recognition of letters and the sound they make. Starting 4 (or 3.9 if your child already knows the letter sounds), start with simple CVC words (at-bat-cat-mat-hat). Repeat each sound individually and then run your finger under the word slowly while sounding out the word. Repeat for 10 minutes. Once the child knows them (a few weeks later sometimes) on to the next (pan-can-tan, etc.). Then you move to BOB books, then leveled readers, and finally chapter books. Ten minutes per day gives your child 60 hours of reading, which is exactly how long it takes a 4 year old to learn how to read at a second grade level (I say this to illustrate how painfully slow and inefficient learning to read in a classroom with 27 students and a teacher truly is). A parent teaching their child one-on-one before school is much less pressure. But unfortunately, all of the play-only PPs here will insist I am pressuring my child and making him anxious. Be warned, it will take away 10 minutes of your child’s daily play time!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

But they will be far from the only one who can't do those things.

This exactly! You people do realize there are some kids who don't go to preschool at all right? And if you think your kid is going to be mentally and emotionally stressed because they can't hold a pencil maybe ask yourselves where they're getting that from.

+1 and to the poster who thinks we are worried your child is outpacing ours, I can assure you that is not the case. That thought is coming at this from an “achievement and being the best is the main goal” perspective, which is just not where I am. we just have different perspectives around our kids. That’s okay. But you’re projecting a bit of you think that’s why others choose and encourage less academic focus pre-kindergarten

Or I should it may be projecting if you think that’s why I feel strongly about and encourage other parents to limit academic pushing at those ages. It’s interesting, because I guess I feel that making the choice to have your child doing those things early comes from a parents fear their kids will not be the best or ahead, or that others will get ahead. So maybe we’re both missing each other’s objectives and values.

To the ops update- I totally see where you’re coming from and agree. Play based shouldn’t mean free for all without skilled teachers guiding deep learning. Maybe this program isn’t the best for your family and you can find a happy medium.

I’m the PP whose child entered K reading and doing math; I honestly don’t understand this vitriol directed at parents who teach their children a love of learning and the tools to master academic challenges. Tiger mom? Harvard edge? These insults belie a culture that despises teaching a child knowledge for knowledge‘s sake, it’s like it is unfathomable that a parent might love their child and want to teach them to pursue everything with excellence. I honestly don’t care if your child enters school not knowing how to hold a pencil, it makes no difference to me or my kid. If you think teaching your child these things takes away from their playtime, don’t do it!

Everyone here who is arguing for a more relaxed and play based environment IS advocating for knowledge for knowledges' sake. How do you think you develop a life long love of learning in a child? Not by stressing them out and insisting that they can do xy&z things by kindergarten. Knowing how to use a pencil isn't knowledge for knowledge sake, it's an ultimately pointless exercise in proving that your child is "ready" for kindergarten but really is meaningless. The people here you're railing against are trying to say that by taking a more relaxed and age appropriate approach- rather than insisting children complete some sore of meaningless checklist by 4.5- you are in fact developing the love of learning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t listen to these ridiculous posters, the handwringing over anxious preschoolers completing reams of worksheets is just a reflection of parents worried other kids are outpacing their own. My child went to an academic preschool where they played but also spent an hour writing, reading (letter sounds) and adding small numbers. My child also *gasp* spent 30 minutes at home practicing phonics and a K math book daily. When did he play? The rest of the whole day! He missed absolutely nothing, and went into K reading chapter books. I really don’t get the Only Play thing with kids.

Ok, but what did he gain by going into K reading chapter books? That’s the point. Kids have the entire rest of their schooling to sit at desks and read. They have a very short time when they can play all day. Most of the kindergarten classrooms in Arlington don’t even have toys because there is no time in the day for playing; it’s all academics. Let the preschoolers play!

This is the problem: somehow there exists this idea that children who advance early aren’t playing and I’m honestly puzzled how this myth has survived so long. A four year old can learn how to read in 10 minutes a day. A year of that, and the child can read at a 2nd grade level. Preschool is the best time to learn. The child has no pressure and endless time. You know when the worst time to read begins? When they are sitting in a classroom with 26 other noisy children for 8 hours a day with a report card detailing their progress. If you don’t see the benefits for a young child to be able to pick up any book in their library and understand it independently, then we don’t share the same views on parenting. And that’s okay, that’s exactly why preschools offer different curricula.

NP. My child is at play based preschool- he likes it and we have no intention of moving. That being said, he loves us reading books to him at night and has expressed interest in being able to read the words himself. When you say a child can be taught to read in 10 minutes a day, do you have specific recommendations of how we could do this at home?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

But they will be far from the only one who can't do those things.

This exactly! You people do realize there are some kids who don't go to preschool at all right? And if you think your kid is going to be mentally and emotionally stressed because they can't hold a pencil maybe ask yourselves where they're getting that from.

+1 and to the poster who thinks we are worried your child is outpacing ours, I can assure you that is not the case. That thought is coming at this from an “achievement and being the best is the main goal” perspective, which is just not where I am. we just have different perspectives around our kids. That’s okay. But you’re projecting a bit of you think that’s why others choose and encourage less academic focus pre-kindergarten

Or I should it may be projecting if you think that’s why I feel strongly about and encourage other parents to limit academic pushing at those ages. It’s interesting, because I guess I feel that making the choice to have your child doing those things early comes from a parents fear their kids will not be the best or ahead, or that others will get ahead. So maybe we’re both missing each other’s objectives and values.

To the ops update- I totally see where you’re coming from and agree. Play based shouldn’t mean free for all without skilled teachers guiding deep learning. Maybe this program isn’t the best for your family and you can find a happy medium.

I’m the PP whose child entered K reading and doing math; I honestly don’t understand this vitriol directed at parents who teach their children a love of learning and the tools to master academic challenges. Tiger mom? Harvard edge? These insults belie a culture that despises teaching a child knowledge for knowledge‘s sake, it’s like it is unfathomable that a parent might love their child and want to teach them to pursue everything with excellence. I honestly don’t care if your child enters school not knowing how to hold a pencil, it makes no difference to me or my kid. If you think teaching your child these things takes away from their playtime, don’t do it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

But they will be far from the only one who can't do those things.

This exactly! You people do realize there are some kids who don't go to preschool at all right? And if you think your kid is going to be mentally and emotionally stressed because they can't hold a pencil maybe ask yourselves where they're getting that from.

+1 and to the poster who thinks we are worried your child is outpacing ours, I can assure you that is not the case. That thought is coming at this from an “achievement and being the best is the main goal” perspective, which is just not where I am. we just have different perspectives around our kids. That’s okay. But you’re projecting a bit of you think that’s why others choose and encourage less academic focus pre-kindergarten

Or I should it may be projecting if you think that’s why I feel strongly about and encourage other parents to limit academic pushing at those ages. It’s interesting, because I guess I feel that making the choice to have your child doing those things early comes from a parents fear their kids will not be the best or ahead, or that others will get ahead. So maybe we’re both missing each other’s objectives and values.

To the ops update- I totally see where you’re coming from and agree. Play based shouldn’t mean free for all without skilled teachers guiding deep learning. Maybe this program isn’t the best for your family and you can find a happy medium.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

But they will be far from the only one who can't do those things.

This exactly! You people do realize there are some kids who don't go to preschool at all right? And if you think your kid is going to be mentally and emotionally stressed because they can't hold a pencil maybe ask yourselves where they're getting that from.

+1 and to the poster who thinks we are worried your child is outpacing ours, I can assure you that is not the case. That thought is coming at this from an “achievement and being the best is the main goal” perspective, which is just not where I am. we just have different perspectives around our kids. That’s okay. But you’re projecting a bit of you think that’s why others choose and encourage less academic focus pre-kindergarten

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

You're in for a really long road if you don't understand that your child will do things at a different pace than other children sometimes. Maybe take that as an opportunity to teach them that people learn skills at different times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

But they will be far from the only one who can't do those things.

This exactly! You people do realize there are some kids who don't go to preschool at all right? And if you think your kid is going to be mentally and emotionally stressed because they can't hold a pencil maybe ask yourselves where they're getting that from.

Anonymous wrote:When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

But they will be far from the only one who can't do those things.

When a child is the only one in a class who cannot do something, it can impact how they feel each day going to school and how they view themselves. It is not weird to want a baseline level of skill when starting K.

Anonymous wrote:What could it possibly matter if your kid knows how to hold a pencil the first week of kindergarten or the fifth, when they teach it? Do you really think that will be the edge that gets them into Harvard?

Some parents care that their children are prepared for Kindergarten, which has nothing to do with an edge but giving your child the tools to learn. You don’t have to teach your child anything, but it’s odd to shame parents for teaching theirs.

What could it possibly matter if your kid knows how to hold a pencil the first week of kindergarten or the fifth, when they teach it? Do you really think that will be the edge that gets them into Harvard?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t listen to these ridiculous posters, the handwringing over anxious preschoolers completing reams of worksheets is just a reflection of parents worried other kids are outpacing their own. My child went to an academic preschool where they played but also spent an hour writing, reading (letter sounds) and adding small numbers. My child also *gasp* spent 30 minutes at home practicing phonics and a K math book daily. When did he play? The rest of the whole day! He missed absolutely nothing, and went into K reading chapter books. I really don’t get the Only Play thing with kids.

Ok, but what did he gain by going into K reading chapter books? That’s the point. Kids have the entire rest of their schooling to sit at desks and read. They have a very short time when they can play all day. Most of the kindergarten classrooms in Arlington don’t even have toys because there is no time in the day for playing; it’s all academics. Let the preschoolers play!

This is the problem: somehow there exists this idea that children who advance early aren’t playing and I’m honestly puzzled how this myth has survived so long. A four year old can learn how to read in 10 minutes a day. A year of that, and the child can read at a 2nd grade level. Preschool is the best time to learn. The child has no pressure and endless time. You know when the worst time to read begins? When they are sitting in a classroom with 26 other noisy children for 8 hours a day with a report card detailing their progress. If you don’t see the benefits for a young child to be able to pick up any book in their library and understand it independently, then we don’t share the same views on parenting. And that’s okay, that’s exactly why preschools offer different curricula.

This is OP. I am not surprised by the responses, but I will give more info on my view then bow out. I do agree emergent curriculum and play based can be excellent for children. But, bluntly, you need very strong teachers and low student teacher ratio for it to be more then essentially babysitting kids while they play with toys or on a playground. You need creative teachers who are fully invested daily and ensure learning themes come up during exchanges with children. Sounds like some of you have that. Our school is lacking in that department. It's teachers letting kids "chose" to play dolls, build, etc, while teachers sit around and watch. And I think this is what goes on at the majority of preschools using this curriculum, unless they have an extensively trained staff which is frankly unlikely given what we pay providers in the US. Again, I think its great in theory, but rarely implemented professionally or appropriately so I am hesitant to go to another school touting this.

My other child started K this year in northern virginia. Every single child could write there name on day 1, and its a large class. Most kids were 6 yrs old or soon to be. Our PK has let us know quite directly that they do not think a child needs to write their name by K, that is not necessary or age appropriate. This to me goes back to what is theoretically ideal, but is not operating in the local reality my kid (any many of yours) will enter. As I said, my kid will be a very young K - and will be entering a class with mostly 6 year olds thanks to this red shirt epidemic in N. Va. It's not out of the line for me to expect her PK to ensure she is prepped for K. They have said bluntly they will not because they disagree with the reality of what K is now... So I am looking for a place that will make sure my child is not behind peers. Im taking the advice to re-look at montessori, as one PP noted many places claim to be that with no certification so I will look closely.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t listen to these ridiculous posters, the handwringing over anxious preschoolers completing reams of worksheets is just a reflection of parents worried other kids are outpacing their own. My child went to an academic preschool where they played but also spent an hour writing, reading (letter sounds) and adding small numbers. My child also *gasp* spent 30 minutes at home practicing phonics and a K math book daily. When did he play? The rest of the whole day! He missed absolutely nothing, and went into K reading chapter books. I really don’t get the Only Play thing with kids.

Ok, but what did he gain by going into K reading chapter books? That’s the point. Kids have the entire rest of their schooling to sit at desks and read. They have a very short time when they can play all day. Most of the kindergarten classrooms in Arlington don’t even have toys because there is no time in the day for playing; it’s all academics. Let the preschoolers play!