Reasons why a child should NOT go to preschool?

Question

I have one child and I was trying to decide whether or not to send her to preschool. Some say it makes no difference, so I need some opinions. Statistics, proof that preschool helps, proof that it doesnt. Anything that might help me. I really want to keep her home, but Im not sure if I should. PLEASE HELP!!

Answer 1

IDK

Answer 2

If you do decide to send her to preschool, find one that is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) This proves the center goes above and beyond basic licensing laws and is of high quality. The NAEYC website will tell you what to look for in preschools and questions to ask.

Answer 3

sending your child to preschool comes down to a personal choice. i recommend sending her to preschool maybe two to three days a week, part time, if you're having hesitations.

if you're choosing not to send her to preschool, there are so many ways to prepare your child socially and academically. your child can benefit from social settings such as a dance or tumbling class (usually can start at age 3), story time at the library, play ground visits, classes for preschoolers at museums or play groups.

as an early childhood educator, i can tell you that most kids 'catch up' to each other by 2nd grade. kids who come in knowing more (unless they're gifted) level out with the kids who don't know as much coming in.

if you choose not to send your daughter to preschool, work on basic skills your kindergarten teachers look for. the skills they want might be writing her name (only the first letter should be capitalized), recognizing letters, shapes, colors, etc... she should be able to put on and zip up her own coat and other basic self-help skills.

i found a couple of good articles listing the pros and cons of sending your child to preschool:

http://life.familyeducation.com/preschoo...

http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/sahm/arc...   ***this is a message board of a discussion from a stay at home mom website***

this next one is by far the best one that i found:

http://www.preschoolerstoday.com/article...

this one is called Why Preschool Matters:

http://www.parents.com/preschoolers/lear...

if you want to keep her home, i would seriously consider finding a preschool to send her to for two mornings a week. there's nothing wrong with going to preschool part time. kids benefit greatly from being home with their parents as well. but a balance is needed.

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EDIT:

I just looked up statistics to see if there was anything conclusive for you to read about. i found some pretty interesting stuff! It's from this article: http://www.mamashealth.com/child/prescho...

What Is Known About Pre-School

    * Pre-school children are more likely to learn to read and they become better readers than children who never attended pre-school.

    * Children who attend pre-school are more likely to graduate from high school and continue onto college.

    * Children who attend pre-school are less likely to need public assistance when they are adults.

    * Children who attend pre-school are less likely to be incarcerated or arrested when they are older teens and adults.

Answer 4

Sending your child to preschool would help them socially.  They'll probably meet friends and they'll learn how to act around other children.  They'll learn basic stuff as well like sharing, dressing, toileting, meals, etc.  Overall education-wise they'll probably be at the same level of other children their age sometime between grade 1- grade 2 but if you want them to be ahead in kindergarten, preschool is a good option.  I'm an Early Childhood Education student and I did my first field placement at a daycare during the summer that was attached to a school.  I did my third field placement in a kindergarten class and I had a lot of my old preschool students in my kindergarten class and I noticed a big difference  in the preschool students knowledge/abilities compared to most of the other students who didn't go to daycare.  Most of the preschool students were much further advanced than most of the other students.  This is different for every child but this is a generalization I discovered and it's not to say that your child wont be advanced when they get to kindergarten if they don't go to daycare.

Overall I'd say that preschool is excellent for learning social skills.  Preschool is also good for educating children but keep in mind that by grade 1 or 2 your child will probably be at the same level as the other students whether they went to preschool or not...it's good to get a head start in kindergarten though.

Additionally, preschool is not for every child and I wouldn't recommend it to a child that thrives or needs one on one attention all day in which I'd recommend a home daycare or babysitter.

Answer 5

I havent sent either of my kids to preschool and they are doing just fine in school. Im a stay at home mom, and Im not going to pay someone else to babysit them basically. I can teach them myself what they are going to teach them at preschool which is basically, numbers, letters, colors, etc. I make sure to take them out as much as I can also, so that they develop good social skills.

Answer 6

I would highly recommend sending your child to preschool.  I would also highly recommend sending her to a Co-operative Preschool where your involvement in her classroom is not only encouraged, but required.  I teach in a cooperative and absolutely love working with the parents of my students!  It's a great experience for everyone!

Wow!  I'm insulted by the person who called preschool just paying someone to babysit their kids!  If you have ever been in a GOOD preschool classroom, you would not come out thinking that the teacher is just babysitting.  I've been teaching preschool for 8 years now and have never once been called a babysitter by any of the parents of my students.  I teach pre-reading and math skills including letters and letter sounds, handwriting, sorting, patterning, counting, addition & subtraction through fun hands-on activities that are very well thought out and planned.  This is in addition to teaching social skills such as manners and appropriate problem-solving techniques.  I also teach science through hands-on experiments and activities.   I have no doubt that you can teach your children these things at home -- i.e. homeschooling.  But, I would never call a parent who decides to homeschool their child a babysitter!  Teaching preschool is a job that requires a college degree in Michigan -- I have both an Associates Degree and a Bachelors Degree.  I love teaching preschool and I have an excellent reputation as a teacher -- not a babysitter!

Answer 7

Choosing to take your child to preschool or not will always come down to a personal choice. There's no reason why you cannot do heaps with your child at home. One of the main reasons I went with my children to early childhood education was to help them socially. They learn to work alongside and with other children both individually  and in groups. They gain valuable, fun and exciting experiences from other people too. (children and adults). It also fosters independence - being able to ask for help, got to the toilet yourself etc.

That is probably the one thing you cannot always give them at home - groups of other adults and children to interact with.

If you do decide that an early childhood centre is right for you both, take your time and choose one that feels right. Make sure you can visit together and get a  feel for the place. You both need and want to be happy about your choice.

All the best.

Answer 8

I have been a teacher for 10 years, my sister, and dad are all teachers. There is no doubt in my mind that preschool helps socially and academically. My best friend teaches kindergarten and she always can tell if a child hasn't gone to preschool. They typically are socially awkward when they start. Plus kids who go to preschool build immunities and do not get sick as often when they are in grade school. I don't have a list of statistics, just know from experience it would benefit your daughter.

Answer 9

I am a mother. but I am letting my son go to school though I want him at home. I am telling the reasons that help me to take the decision:

1. My child is introvert. very shy. I want him to go to a different environment than home. it will help him to become strong.

2. If I make him go next year, some of the students in his class will be more advance than him in learning as they attended school early. He will not feel good and he is the one who will always have to face the class ... not me.

3. I will be for my child the rest of the day after school. I hope when he will  be back from school and recite me new rhlymes or tell me his day to day activities and stories about his friends, I am sure we will enjoy and can laugh a lot inshaAllah.

4. My child does not have the opportunity to mix with same age children. My playing style does not match his. But mixing with same age children will make him a real child. and I don't want to take away his joy of playing with same age children. And at school he will play and learn at the same time.

so,  I decided to let him go for few hours. But choose your school carefully. Your child should love the school. Good luck to you.

Answer 10

the research goes back and forth. ultimately it's up to you to decide, to know your child's personality, and to find the right match for you.

i am an only child and both my parents worked. i pretty much grew up in child care. i am so glad i did. if i had been at home all day with my mother i would have turned to her for everything and not learned how to play with children my own age. instead i had to share toys, learn to handle my own problems, and realized that i wasn't the only exciting/cute kid in the room. my mom also liked it because i was exposed to different kids, styles of teaching, as well as germs.

honestly, your child is going to get nailed by chicken pox, the flu, colds, pink eye and all that stuff when they enter elementary school. if they start school younger they will have built up a stronger immune system.

finally, i think preschool prepares children for school. they learn what will be expected when they go to 'big kids school' and have the opportunity to learn the important pre-reading, listening, and social skills that will make school easier.

there are studies that disagree with my opinions - and about as many that agree. so i think it's ultimately dependent on your child's temperament, your preferences, and what will best fit your family's needs. i went through child care and preschool and turned out pretty darn well.

Answer 11

Preschool will help your child socialized with other children. It also helps your child develop listening skills..so learn will be easier. Reading  and or phonics are sometimes introduced..this will also help in kindergarten..because lesson are taught so quickly. I really believe going to preschool builds confidence in a child..that he enters school knowing that he "CAN" do and learn anything..there will be no "I CAN'T" do this or that. You can see the joy in their eyes..make school fun in an early age.

Answer 12

Keep her home and work with her until she is four. She will benefit more from you in the very early years. If she goes to four year old preschool/pre-k, she will adjust better to the Kindergarten transition and will be academically aligned with her peers.

Answer 13

these may not be y it helps but keep reading

1. they meet other people make friends

2. have fun and learn

me and mi best friend have been friends since (were 21 now)preschool i couldn't imagine if i didn't go to preschool i wouldn't have met her wen kids go to prep they know people because normally they went to preschool together

mi advice let her go to preschool

Answer 14

i think if you are willing to put the time and effort into working with your child, preschool is not necessary.  this means working with her on her academic skills and her social skills.  find playgroups or start one at your own house, go to storytime at your local library, encourage her to have friends over.

my daughter was an only child and i sent her to ps only 2 mornings a week so she could develop friendships.  once she had her circle of friends, we began playdates, having them over, going to the park, etc.  and along with this i worked with her at home.

the key is that you have to be willing to make the effort on her behalf.

Answer 15

If you don't want your child socialized or academically challenged - to make new friends and learn when it's appropriate to sit and listen and when it's appropriate to talk and laugh.  It's all about kindergarten readiness - if you think your child is ready without it, then keep her home.  If you have doubts, any doubts - send her to preschool. I'm a strong advocate in case you hadn't noticed.

Answer 16

Well, I am almost in the same boat as you.  I have one child and want to keep him at home.  While some of the other answers are good I have to say that I love having him at home.  He gets "socialized" when we go out, he interacts with both adults and children when we go out, he learns how to cope in real world situations.  So, I think he is better off with me then in a group of 25 kids that can be unruly, teaching bad habits, etc.  My son is 3 and a half and already knows how to read, write some of the alphabet legibly and the rest in his "style", he knows the values of work and play and all the other things he would learn at preschool.  If you can teach him at home and on outings, keep him home.  My son loves the zoo and planetarium.  He has already decided he wants to be an astronaut doctor and I encourage that every time I can.  Only you know your child and their potential.  Now is the time to help develop it.