New policy for preschool children's learning?

Question

I have been a little concerned with what my child does/doesn't do while at preschool. I have been told that there is a new policy that the government have introduced into preschools this policy means that children have the right to play during the whole session and they don't have specific tasks to do. While on 1 hand I think this is good - children spend many years in a school environment and they do love to play. On the other hand - children from the age of 2yrs 9m's are given the right to decided what they do and when they do it!!

since this change was introduced (this being before the parents were told) my little boys attitude and behaviour has really changed, he doesn't like being told to do something, has a right paddy about and all he has done is fight with his younger brother.

Let me know if you have preschool aged children and if you have also seen a change in them since/if this change has happened at your school.

everyone i spoke to thinks its crazy - what about U?

Answer 1

I have heard of working with children without a curriculum. There is a name for it but I can not think of it. You develop activities as the child plays and what they show interest in. I don't teach that way. I do believe in much of the morning spent in free play along with activities that must be done either that day or sometime in the next few days. Learning through play is important but I can not imagine teaching social skills with out some rules and activities that need done. Manners is part of our curriculum. Sounds like you live in a country other than the US but I would check into this idea as being the government policy.

Answer 2

I have a child in preschool and no one has heard of that policy even being suggested.

In fact, there is a concern in the opposite direction. We tend to over schedule, over load, the kids at earlier and earlier ages.

While there are no accreditations for preschool, there are some pretty strict guidelines to follow to have the title "PREschool" versus "PLAYschool". Check your state education site, it should have info for you.

Answer 3

Never heard of that. I worked in a preschool not too long ago and we were very structured, but used games and activities a lot to help the kids learn things. I've never heard of allowing preschoolers to just roam free. Why pay for preschool if they are going to do that. Find a new preschool that has a structured system.

Answer 4

I work in a Foundation Stage (UK) and both the Nursery and Reception Children follow a curriculum that is largely based on play and more specifically free play; the Nursery children have one focused session with Teacher input each day, and other than this they choose from many activities that have been set up for the day based on specific planning and learning objectives, and it is the role of the adults in the setting to relate these activities (whatever they may be) to areas of learning related to the curriculum, in order to develop each child's learning.  

For example, a child may choose to paint all morning; but an adult might encourage the child to mix the paints to make different colours, ask the child to write their name with the paint, sing nursery rhymes relating to what they are playing, paint different shapes/letters/numbers with the child - the potential for learning from that one activity is limitless.  

Our Unit would find it hard to cope with three year old children having to sit and take part in specific activities with (sometimes limited) learning objectives, in some cases because it can be a long time for children to concentrate, in some cases children are not interested in that activity (and could achieve the same outcomes in an activity of their own choice), and in some cases children just want to burn up all the energy they have on many different activities!  The children would simply run away from a situation they don't find desirable, because they aren't old enough to comprehend formality.

It might be good to bear in mind that young children want to explore because everything is relatively new to them, and having the freedom to do that is fantastic for them!  Free play encourages children to become independent learners, helps them to develop relationships and feeds their enthusiasm for learning, which can only be a good thing.

We do of course ensure good behaviours are rewarded and talk through behaviours such as those you have experienced with your son; it could be that his new found independence is causing this behaviour, in which case you need to reinforce the rules that you have at home, ignore the tantrums so he sees that this does not get him his own way.  It could also be that he is learning behaviours from other children in the setting, or it could be something else completely!  Children tend to do things for a reason though, so whether it's changes at home or school, or other influences, it should become apparent after a time and hopefully you will be able to work through it.

Has your Pre-school given you any kind of home-school agreement, or an overview of what happens during the day?  As a parent, you have every right to know what your son is doing, so perhaps ask to stay and sit in on a morning session when you next have the chance, if you really are concerned about the change in policy you'll be able to use your own observations to confirm your worries that your son's behaviour is directly related to the changes, or see that the new policy is working.  (Although not every setting gets new changes right first time, hopefully it will be the latter).

Answer 5

Yes, I have a 19 months little girl who goes to home daycare from Monday to Friday. It seems sometimes she likes to copy what other bigger children do in the daycare but, you know that she's learning how to say no or stop if she doesn' t want to play or mingle with them. My daughter learning which child she need to play with or she will look-up with other child that younger than she is. I learn how to trust her decision eventhough she's still a baby. You know what, I am a pre-school teacher of ages 4 to 5 yrs. old. The children I teach learn a different technique compare to my young baby. By the way, a toddler will demand a lots of things specially by experiencing through play.

Answer 6

You sound like your outside the USA. Play is very important to a  child's learning. I had a Reggio - based classroom approach to learning. The kids decided the activities, and what topics to research. They learned alot that year, in part from I the teacher guiding them in their research of a topic, along with assisting them on obtaining the needed supplies. Sounds kinda odd, but the kids learn more than ever. I used to teach theme-based. These kids are quite capable of 'running' their own classroom. But here is the main thing. The teacher MUST be the guide. My AM class last year was crazy. After numerous mental health specialists visited the class to save me (!), we finally determined the problem. And this may be the problem with the 'all play'  policy at your program. The kids in my class (12 out of 17) lacked what is called 'play scripts'. Basically, they did not know how to 'play' with blocks. (even the older 4's just stacked them, knocked them down. never built 4 walled forts, castles, etc.). They did not know how to play 'house'. Their play was not purposeful, it was only destructive and anti-social. That is where a teacher needs to step in and guide the play to a purposeful action. Purposeful play develops skills.

Answer 7

Whereabouts do you live?  In the U.S. it is agreed that children learn best through play and exploration and around 1 hour of uninterupted free playtime is strongly encouraged.  There are definately things they "need" to do and the teachers usually implement a "small group" time...which I sometimes call "have tos" with the children I work with.  Even in those small group times, many of the activities could be considered "play" but have a specific skill that the teacher is aiming to get the children to practice.  Sounds to me that maybe this preschool is interpreting the "policy" differently than what it is meant to be like.  Maybe look into other preschools?  Ask around your area...meet with the director/teacher and find out the specifics of this policy.  Good luck!