What should I do my daughter will be bored in preschool?

Question

I dont thinks she super advanced or anything. Its just she has a strong interest in learning and reading and already knows what all the preschools seem to be teaching. Shes doing phonics and most preschools teaching letters and colors and she has know them since 2. We tried a preschool last year but she was bored stiff and the teachers didnt do anything about it even when I addressed it to them - we ended up pulling her cause it was more like daycare. Which I understand for most preschool is jsut about getting use to things - socially and school setting etc but would if your kid wants more? Id love to put her in Kindergarten but obviously your not allowed to put a 4 yrold in Kindergarten (shell be 4 in June before the school year.) Ive looked at public, charter, private and montessori. Montessori seems the best option but the only ones are out of my district and they do a lottery every year if your out of district so she may go 1 year and not the next I dont want that either.???

Answer 1

I've read the long answers but I'd like to give you a shorter one.

The real purpose of preschool is to teach children how to socialize with others, how to share, how to communicate, how to be patient and how to behave around others.

Learning is just a small part of the task.  There are many geniuses out there with absolutely no social skills.  I hope that’s not what you want for your child.

As far as the high end private schools go, they are great for putting enormous amount of pressure on student and their families.  Learning is one thing but putting so much pressure on young children can’t be good.  The attempted suicide rate for private school children is not well publicized and for a good reason.   The families of the private school students are also expected to be overly involved in the school as well.

Children should enjoy the learning experience.  Private school is wonderful when there is a good mixture of academics along with social growth.  Allow your child a childhood.

Answer 2

If you can get her into Montessori only for the first year, I would do it.  It will not be too traumatizing for her to change schools.  She's just graduating to the "big" school.

Answer 3

Well, first of all, preschool is optional. If you think the preschools aren't very good, then keep her home and teach her yourself. The main purpose of preschool is for socialization. My son was very advanced academically, but lacked social skills (he is autistic). So, I sent him to preschool and supplemented items at home.

Answer 4

Your child sounds advanced, however as a teacher I have seen children who are very smart who are lacking in other areas.  Maybe your child would benefit from working on her social skills.  Part of being ready for kindergarten is for that child to be able to function within the culture of the school.  Your child needs to be able to follow the rules of the school, she should be able to resolve conflicts with peers as well as make friends and sustain a friendship.  

Make sure that you talk to her teachers and ask their opinion because no parent can be completely objective about their child.

If she really is ready for kindergarten and all else fails, you can always do what my mom did for me and change the date on her birth certificate.

Answer 5

She probably is gifted!

Ask schools if they use differentiation in their classroom.

To "advance" her one grade may or may not be beneficial. It all depends on her maturity, but probably a different kind of program is better for her.

I would also ask my school district if they allow for some screening to see if your daughter is gifted. I am not sure about how the US laws, or your state's law says about it, but she might have certain rights and need accomodations.

See Johns Hopkins for more information!

Answer 6

well if u r a stay at home mom then u could always home scool just till shes 5. then u cud give her more advanced things! or just talk to the teachers and maybe your dater could bring a more advanced book to read! or well everyone is working on easy stuff the teacher could give her more challenging stuff! try taking to the teacher again!

Answer 7

You must be very proud of your child!

Programs to consider: Reggio Emilia, Montessori, High Scope, Waldorf...or a really great pre-school that understands the whole child.

If you can, try to find a pre-school program that has good schedule and routine but gives the children quite a bit of choice time and center play----where children can be involved in things that interest them. (Observe the program to make sure it is stimulating) Children learn through play and hand-on activities.

Academically, to start kindergarten---a child minimally should know the ABC's, colors, count to at least 20, write their name and know shapes and be able to cut them out. It sounds like your daughter is ahead on all of this. Do children start Kindergarten knowing more or less than this? Yes...

However-- more important are other factors. Children grow at different rates in all areas of development. She chronologically is going on four--and cognitively may be at 5.5 years of age-- but how old is she socially, emotionally and physically? How are  her large motor and fine motor skills? How well does she follow directions, wait, sit in a group, and communicate her needs and feelings? These are all levels you need to take into account. She may be gifted in the academic area--but she is still going on 4. It is extremely unusual to have a child that is at the same age level in all areas.

To meet your child's needs-those are the questions you should ask to do in what is best for her. Those answers will tell you what to do. In the meantime, keep doing what you're doing to encourage her LOVE of learning! Time and a really good program will help prepare and develop all other areas of growth. :-)

Barb Shelby

Answer 8

I have homeschooled my 7 & 9 years olds from the beginning. At preschool age I bought preschool material and used things off the internet geared for 3K & 4K and just worked through those things at each child's own pace.  When they finished (or learned) a certain portion of material we moved on.  They both started 1st grade early (at home).  With my oldest, we did slow things down at that point and he is now on grade level, like he would be in school.  My youngest is a grade ahead.  I did not push them, I just let them work at a comfortable pace, and I still do.  I love ABeka material for preschool and 1st grade.  Their phonics is great.  I also loved a website called the "Letter Of The Week" when we did 3K.  I think that site now has things for older kids.  Not sure.

Answer 9

Montessori is designed to teach kids at whatever level they can learn, regardless of age.  That would be your best option, if its available.  We found it very rewarding - stayed through Kindergarten. Beyond that, I wouldn't worry too much.  As long as they're keeping her mentally active, it's going in the right direction and she'll be fine.  You can still do extra work with her at home in the evenings and weekends.  

Creme de la Creme has a good reputation.  

If Montessori or other private schools aren't available I see 3 options, you can teach her yourself during the day, move to a new area, or use a normal preschool (and teach her things outside of the work day).  

Having a caring parent who is interested and encourages learning is the most important thing.  If that presence is felt for the next 15 years, she'll have a leg up over many kids.

Answer 10

As many others have suggested, I think Montessori would be great for her. I attended a Montessori school for 9 years, from preschool to 6th grade, and was allowed to work at an advanced level every year, whether that involved me getting a different math book than the students in my grade or different reading books when I was back in kindergarten or working in a 1st-3rd grade classroom while I was still in the year below.

However, in Montessori, a lot of the great part of it comes from the connection with the teacher. You spend 3 years with each one. I know I accidentally referred to my teacher as "Dad" at least once. Getting moved in and out would be horrible for her. You may want to send her to a Montessori school outside of those districts, if that's not too far away.

There are other "whole child" programs but I don't think any of them are as ubiquitous in the US has Montessori. If there's a nearby Waldorf school, she might attend that.

I was a lot like your daughter and I think Montessori schooling, along with my parents, helped foster a love for learning, and especially for reading, that I wouldn't have had if I had been sitting, bored, in some traditional school.

Answer 11

Talk to the school where she will be going to Kindergarten. They can do an evaluation and determine if she could start school early. My Mom did this and it resulted in my starting school at the age of 4. I could already read and write and was ahead of even the Kindergartners. It is like she's a little sponge, just soaking up all the learning that she can. I'd check into it, it may be worth trying. Good luck to you!