Pre-K? should all children attend?

Question

Can any one out there tell me whether or not it is a good idea for a child to attend pre-k if he has never been in daycare? are there things he needs to learn before entering kindergarten?

Answer 1

Pre-K is definetly a good idea.  It is kind of like an orientation to Kindergarten.  It also makes it so that children are more comfortable when they enter into Kindergarten.

Answer 2

My daughter went to Pre-K and she just loved it.  I think its a good idea for kids to be around their peers without mom and dad around it helps them learn to listen to other besides mom and dad.  

I think my daughter learned a lot from Pre-k.  The Pre-K she went to was only 3x a week for only 3 hrs. I think that was just enough.  It was good for her to sit down and have snack and lunch with her peers.  This is something she can't do at home.  I believe it improved her table manners a great deal.

I think a child would be taken back when entering kindergarten if he/she has never been in school before it could be a scary thing for them and you don't want to start them off on the wrong foot.

My son will be going to the same Pre-K my daughter did this fall.  And I am sure he will get a lot from it as did my daughter who is now in kindergarten.  

Good Luck but I think your child would benefit from it.  As most children most likely do.

Answer 3

It is a good idea because it gets the child used to other children and to learn ABC's fast and words.

It would greatly help the child alot.

Answer 4

The stuff in Pre-K is pretty unnessecary unless you reallydont have a lot of time with your child, or do not expose them to other children often. Obviously, its better to Expose your kid to his/her peers as soon as possible, but you can do just as good a job coloring giant shapes on paper and then asking them to identify or pck the crayon up that is the same color. I never went to Pre-K...and a lot of parents i work with said theirs havent either....but its your desicion of course.

Answer 5

pre-school is pretty much just coloring and naptime....plus the being read 2...i think it wouldnt matter if he missed it...

Answer 6

No! if socialization is an issue, then try play groups like MOPS (moms of preschoolers) or story time at a library or park. Acedemics are easily learned just palying around the house. When shopping, talk about colors, sizes, textures, (etc).  Sing silly made up songs, tell stories. Pre-K doesn't make a difference unless the kid is behind due to developmental delays or a lack of exposure to skills (experiences) at home.

Answer 7

It is necessary for the kids to socialize. If they are good at speaking and basic stuff for kindergarten, they can go at the age of 4 to get use to the morning routine and also from seperation anxiety.

Answer 8

My mother had a nursery/day care center which she started when my daughter was born. She had it at her home. After a week she had 2 babies. After a month she had six. It grew and she had to hire other staff to help her. My daughter learnt so much from the other children about socializing with her peers. We taught the basics, numbers, colours, ABC and stuff. My daughter could recite the alphabet at 16 months. When she entered school she was 1st place academically and athletically in her first year. I definitely believe that you should have your child stimulated, within reason though, as their brains are like sponges and can absorb so much in the early years, especially 0-5 years

Answer 9

I'll tell you from experience because this is happening to me right now. I have a 3 year old son who will be 4 in July. I have been debating on sending him to preschool when he turns 4 or to keep at home with me to teach him. I am 23 years old going to college and currently found out I am pregnant with my 2nd child. My biggest fear is that I will not have the time to teach my oldest the things he will need to know before attending kindergarten, because they baby is due September 29. I would love to be able to be the one teaching my one children what they need to know. I am a stay at home mother and plan on sitting the fall semester out to have this baby. I may try to teach him myself but if I feel to overwhelmed I will probably send him to pre-K. I say if you stay at home with your child, don't put off what you can teach them on someone else, but if you work its a great thing for them to get the interaction there.

Answer 10

definately! Wouldn't you want to prepare them for school? Don't throw them cold turkey into kindergarten. That would totally freak them out. I'm starting my son in Pre K in the fall. I want him to learn how to be around other children, to play well, and have confidence that I will come back to get him... They also teach the alphabet and numbers and can really give your child the advantage when they start real school.

Answer 11

I think it is up to the parent. My son will be 4 as soon as K-4 starts this year and I really don't think I will put him in because it is only for a few hours a day and it will be a hassel getting him there and home in such a few hours. Although it is a great way to get your child use to being away from you and preparing for kindergarten. It is all up the how you feel about it. Either way it can't harm your child.

Answer 12

I used to work at a daycare/pre-k as a teacher.  I was just having this chat with myself this afternoon on the way home from work.  After having worked at one, my answer is no.  This could be because I know what went on and what goes on at most daycares and pre-ks.  Children were open to profanity heard from other students that they heard at home, hitting and kicking (sometimes severe) from other children, being in a group where if you child is smarter or is struggling having them put in a group where they may need more or less help and they could be doing better or worse.  I also have problems with germs, and knowing that at my particular day care my child could have gotten scabies, or severly sick due to constant germs from lack of disinfectants.  I would check the daycare out a lot before sending them.  Ask what they do if your child is exceptional or needs help or do they just throw them into a group and thats it.  Check how they clean, we got complaints all the time because maintence did not do their job.  I do not want to make you think daycare is not good because there are excellent day cares out there as well as pre-k programs, I just say do you homework!

Answer 13

Pre- K is a very wonderful program.  Especially if your child has no social skills.  It will get him/her ready for what to expect when he/she reaches kidergarden.  It will also give him/her the social skills he/she will need throughout life.  It's the beginning fondation of getting your child ready for his/her education throughout life.

Answer 14

There is so much that children need to know now before kindergarten... children exiting kindergarten are expected to know how to READ by the time kindergarten is over.  Children don't just magically begin to read... there is much work to be done before that can happen.  Many children enter kindergarten without any previous schooling- and they can be up to 5 YEARS in development behind children who have had preschool experience.  Preschool can help children gain the pre-skills that they need in order to succeed in kindergarten.  They can learn language and pre-reading skills, gross and fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and self-help skills.  All these are vital to a child's success in kindergarten and beyond.  Preschool for all four-year-olds would be wonderful... preschool experiences should be available for all- not just the well-off who can afford it.

Answer 15

Most definitely.  The child would become socialized.  This in term will give the teacher a less complex time when they get to Kgtn. or 1st grade (the time where they can get held back for not doing what they are supposed to).

Answer 16

This depends on how much time you spend reading ,playing board games, talking with and interacting with your child. It also depends on whether he or she has  many, many opportunities to play with other children - and not just the neighbor or cousin.  The most important thing entering Kindergarten is whether or not your child is READY to learn.  Can he or she sit for a few stories in a row? Can she button her coat, put on shoes, clean up her own messes, follow multi-step directions?  Also, socially, can she share, is she confident, a risk-taker, can she verbalize her needs and wants to adults and children with ease?  If so, then pre-k may not be necessary.  I find, however, that most kids need to learn how to learn in a school setting0. They need time away from parents to become independant.  Academics are important, but not so important as the other things. You want your child to have a clue of what letters are, what words are, what numbers are, etc... but they will teach all the specifics in school. The other stuff, as listed above, is not taught so much, and without it your child could get labeled early as disuptive or unruly. I would at a minimum put your child in a daycare or preschool part time the year before kindergarten, if not before. This way they know the expectations.  If a child is well behaved, independant, friendly and able to interact with children and adults, and knows school routine, then the academics will come quickly.

Answer 17

not at all.

kids learn JUST FINE at home, and kids that young should be learning through play.

Answer 18

go check a few of them out, and find which one suits you better.

Answer 19

the main thing tht pre-k does for a child, is allows him to interact with children his age.  It is a good thing for him to go to because when he goes to kindergarden all the other children will be used to being around teachers and know how to follow the rules.

Answer 20

Sure.

Answer 21

I've taught preschool thru 8th grade, and attending pre-school is optional.  I would consider the most important reason, is socialization, learning to be part of a large group like you will be in public school.  It is quite a transition to go from being one of two at home with mom to being expected to perform as one of 25.  Academics is also important in preschool to see if your child is ready or may need a little extra attention.  There are a lot of factors involved.  I would suggest you visit a kindgergarten class for an hour or so and see how you think your child would adapt without preschool.  Everyone's family situation is so different and so is each child.

Answer 22

yes if only to learn to socialize with other children. I would check out all of the pre-k in your area and see which one YOU feel comfortable with. ask family and friends also,, your child will benefit from learning the preschool activities and schedules.. my son went and he loved it,helped me realize what his level of academic skills were before he hit kindergarten

Answer 23

Both of my daughters stayed home until they started kindergarten and are doing fine.

Answer 24

Its a great idea to put him in pre-k. It helps prepare them for kinder garden. My son is in pre-k now and I have noticed he is learning a lot, and is very exited about big boy school. I am in Florida and we have a program called VPK (voluntary Pre-k)

its only 3 hours a day from 9am to 12noon. You should check if you have the same thing for your area, you will be very happy with results. Hope this helps you!

Answer 25

my sister went straight to kindergarten and is very smart. my other sister went to preschool and has some troubles.

Answer 26

I work with 3 teachers in kindergarten. The kids who go to pre-k know what they are "required"to know. We were able to tell which kindergarten friends had gone to prek and those that hadn't. The No Child Left Behind has left many k teachers crazy trying to get all the info taught to the children that they are supposed to know by entering kinder. They are supposed to know all colors, all letters, numbers up to 20, some sight words and some sounds.I also had my 2 children in preschool from the ages of 3. It was socialization and learning. It was only 3 hours a day and when they got to kinder. it was easier for them to catch on and follow a routine and focus (to a degree). Its not so much for socialization anymore as a need to help them learn what they need to know.

Answer 27

i think it is strange that most of the people here advising you not to put your kids in prek actually worked in them,....i don't know where they worked at but, maybe they should say so that you avoid those places specifically,....my children loved pre k, two kids and three different pre k's(because we moved).  two of them were at church's, called mom's day out, the kids socialized, learned alot, celebrating holidays was more fun, and i got a few hours to get things done,

kids are expected to know certain things when they go into kinder, if you visit your child's future elementary school they should have a packet that will help you prepare