Question For Teachers Of Little Children?

Question

Say if a parent did not have to work but wanted to put their little one in school for socialization purposes, and to strenghten their independence.

How many hours do you think that children aged 3.4 should be in school?

Should they be in preschool or daycare?

Is preschool good for them?

Is daycare good for them?

I have my 3.4 year old in school for Mon-Wed 8-3 but I was thinking that might be too any hours, because kindergarteners don't even go to school that long.

Answer 1

I would say that at 3.4 they would benefit more from preschool than daycare...as you've said a day is a long time and they have plenty of years at mainstream school for this!

I would say that 2.5 hours a day up to 5 days a week is great! It's not a huge amount of time and the 5 days a week means they will settle quicker, make relationships with others and wont miss out on activities that may occur on days away. If however you dont feel 5 days is appropriate then I'd say no less than 3 days as it makes the separation process longer! I would say mon-wed-fri as then there's not such a big gap between the days away.

I believe preschool is good for children aged 3+ because it prepares them for education by giving them the main basis of learning to ENJOY learning! At preschool children learn through play...they learn to enjoy numbers, reading, being away from the home, making friends etc. It's a gentle progression as school is a huge change!

Look up: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/eyfs as i think it says on there some of the positives about early education.

Answer 2

Kindergarten in Australia is an all day, everyday thing.

But that's aged 5 or 6.

Answer 3

I would say that at about 3 and a half years old, unless it is necessary for you to send him 8-3, please don't!  I believe 3 and 4 year olds benefit more with a half day of socialization.  Any more than that and they should be getting tired.  I'm sure you know what it's like when children get tired!  A designated preschool may be more of an educational setting than a labeled daycare might be.  Any type of socialization should help your child.  Remember that to be a positive social experience, your child will need your support and help in learning how to behave.  Use his/her school experiences as a way to even build your relationship!  Volunteer whenever possible!!!  As for days, I would limit a pre-school experience to two days a week for a 3 year old and 3 days a week for a 4 year old.  That, in my professional opinion, would be the optimal schedule!

Answer 4

Day cares and pre-schools are a very good things.  If your child is 3.4 I'd recommend haveing them in Pre-school until the age of like 5 maybe 4.8. That's my POV. Get more of those basic skills and social skills ingrained early. 8-3 is a good amount of time. In some parts of California pre-schools can go all day or part time, whatever fits your schedule. A lot of kindgergarten classes go all day or just 4 hours a day.  Depends on what district you are in.

Answer 5

There is a HUGE difference between daycare and preschool.  Daycare is awful.  I worked at a day care for one day.  That's all I could stand.  It is a jungle.  Preschool is a much different atmosphere.  It is about education, socialization, and the time is not so long.  

You are right to be thinking about how long your child is in school.  Do you mean Monday and Wednesday (2 days) or Monday through Wednesday (3 days)?  Either one is ok, but you are right in thinking it is a long day.  For a 3 year old, 2 mornings a week is good.  For a 4 year old, 4-5 mornings a week is a good schedule.  Thank you for thinking about your child and his/her comfort as opposed to your own schedule.  You are a good Mom.

Answer 6

I teach full day pre-k. It is a very long day. We are not daycare, so everything is based on curriculum. The children have to be extremely ready for this. In daycare I know they take longer naps. Chances are if they go to daycare, they are taking a 2 hour nap or around there. At my pre-K they only get 45 minute nap. A lot of preschools are 1/2 day if they are public, private most are full day. If you send her to preschool, she has to be prepared for that long day. Honestly, I don't think its necessary. If its for socialization, then just a few hours a day will suffice. If you want Kindergarten readiness, then full day might be a better option. In NY, Kindergarteners go to school full day.  

Answer 7

Well if a parent does not have to work, then I would say

just a few hours a day (4 or 5) should be adequate enough for socializing purposes. Or you could just bring your child to a preschool 2 or 3 days per week. Some schools allow you to do that.

Preschool would be good for this age group because they'll be more ready going into kindergarten. Daycare is just games and fun and everything. Preschool is the same but your children also being to learn ABC's and counting and such.

Both preschool and daycare are good for kids.

I'm an assistant a preschool/daycare. It is a daycare during the summer and also during the school year after 2pm. At daycare, your kids take naps, eat healthy snacks, go outside to play, play in the classroom, do group activities, storytime, etc. Preschool is similar except that it is usually only a half a day type thing and then you can pick up your child.  

Answer 8

I teach a full day preschool (four year olds).  I believe putting four year old into preschool is an excellent idea.  It makes starting kindergarten so much easier.  In my experience, the children who never went to daycare, or any other schooling, didn't do as well in preschool or kindergarten.  Preschool and daycare teaches kids the things they need to know to get a head start in school.  Now I am not a big fan of three year old programs.  I think pushing kids too much can be a bad thing.  However, I don't think half a day a few days a week isn't so bad.  And kudos to you for thinking of your child's educational needs. Many people don't believe that socialization is apart of the educational process.  

Answer 9

Yes, our Kindergarten is all day everyday as well... (U.S.) and most likely within a couple of years most if not all will be that way.  

You should not be able to tell the difference between a good day care and a preschool program.  :-)  But that's the ideal...people haven't really been understanding that and unfortunately...there is often a difference between day care and preschool.

Monday & Wednesday or Monday through Wednesday?  2 days a week for that time period is fine...but is this day care?  If you are at home...there really is no need for you to be paying for the child to be attending during nap time.  Unless, of course, you are making these two days "mommy days"...we do need those and do not need to think poorly of ourselves for taking them.  :-)  2 days a week is great for first year preschoolers...3 days is great for 2nd year preschoolers.  There are so many programs out there...you just have to do what your gut says.  I, personally, teach a 5 day/half day preschool program for 3 and 4 year olds.  There are multiple reasons why I do this...but my point is that there are so many different programs available to you that you can choose from.  One last thought... does your child handle this schedule fine now?  If the going is good... there really is no reason to change it.  :-)

Answer 10

don't be worry about ur kids they are fine preschool is good for them 8-3 is good time not bad at all