Thinking about it. Opting out of the whole thing. We have a preschool of sorts. Its supposed to be a fully involved parent type thing. I have been to 1 class. As far as I can see the kids play for most of the time. Then they sit in chairs, sing a song and listen to a book. Then they do art and off we go.
The crazy ass teacher is thinking of chucking us out.
Which made me wonder.
Do I really have to have the kids in a preschool (cost in NY $15 - 40K each). (Yes, each). Can't I 'make' them a preschool with classes and if I write a stage appropriate curriculum they would learn the right things in time for school.
I just don't know why kids at 2 or 3 or even 4 need to be in 'school' at all.
Am I crazy?
I can easily get a student to teach my kids and maybe a whole bunch of others in our apartment.
Just to put this in perspective, my friend has a spreadsheet of preschools, psych testers approved by the afore mentioned preschools and what not. We want to put the kids in public school. But she says the same thing. I don't have an excel sheet!!!!
What do you think?
The crazy ass teacher is thinking of chucking us out.
Which made me wonder.
Do I really have to have the kids in a preschool (cost in NY $15 - 40K each). (Yes, each). Can't I 'make' them a preschool with classes and if I write a stage appropriate curriculum they would learn the right things in time for school.
I just don't know why kids at 2 or 3 or even 4 need to be in 'school' at all.
Am I crazy?
I can easily get a student to teach my kids and maybe a whole bunch of others in our apartment.
Just to put this in perspective, my friend has a spreadsheet of preschools, psych testers approved by the afore mentioned preschools and what not. We want to put the kids in public school. But she says the same thing. I don't have an excel sheet!!!!
What do you think?
My childcare cost is 15K/year at Bright Horizons. I think they qualify as "pre-school." If I had 2 kids...yeap, double that, which is why a twin was NEVER EVER EVER an option for me, a single mom.
ReplyDeleteI suppose by having a nanny at home you've been able to pay less than 30K/year for both. If so, keep it going and don't feel pressured for pre-school. You're right, there is nothing more they'll learn there vs. a structured day with your nanny. Go out and buy some flash cards and build a curriculum she/you can follow during day/evening and you'll be fine.
I didn't go to pre-school. I was home with my mom and she taught me letters, numbers, colors amd the basics. I was ahead of the game in kindergarten (back in 1972) and did fine in school.
So unless they have the kids learning and retaining world history, algebra and earth science at 3 years old, nix it. ;)
Why is the teacher going to chuck you out? How bizarre!
ReplyDeleteI think the benefit of preschool is similar to a class or play date. So you can take it or leave it. Is this a full day gig? Here it's about $1100 a month for a good full time pre school. We are going for the two times a week for 2.5 hours as long as one of us is home with kiddo. But I know ppl with singletons who think its a good option because its half the price of a nanny. Good luck!!!
Zounds! That is a ton of money to pay for basically a playdate! Here in the 'burbs outside of Boston, we are paying about 3K for BOTH kids to to to preschool 2.5 hrs a day, 2X per week. We never did the calculation for 3 days/wk, let alone 5 days/wk. Do they get to do a lot of fun stuff? Sure. Is it something I couldn't do? Nope. For us, it is more of the social aspect to preschool, since they don't interact much with other children and adults being home all day with Grandma. My 2 cents? You could devise the same curriculum yourself. shoot, they even sell kits at chain bookstores like Barnes amd Noble. With the rise in popularity of homeschooling, there are probably a ton of resources out there. I say, go for it!
ReplyDeleteYes, you can absolutely do the same thing at home. If you add in a few playdates or classes a week, you've got socialization. Then you are set! :D
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever commented on your blog ... but I'm a lurking reader. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm also a Kindergarten teacher (and single mom of a 14 year old boy). There is a PRONOUNCED difference in the children who come to school with some kind of preschool experience vs. those without. They can sit and attend for a few minutes, compared to those who have not had to. They are able to share their belongings and can usually be more independent, quicker. They also have been away from Mommy (and/or Daddy) and know how to give attention and follow directions, on a more accurate timetable, as opposed to those children who have had Mommy/Daddy giving them multiple reminders and lots of help/reminders/threats.
I do not see the need for preschool at 2 or even 3 years of age. However, the year before the child enters Kindergarten is a very important time for SOME kind of structured/away from Mommy/Daddy academic time. Seriously, even ONCE a week is better than nothing.
Ok, just my 2 cents ... Best of luck in whatever you decide! :-) Dianna
I'm an experienced primary school teacher in the UK, teaching the first year of Primary School - 4 and 5 year olds - and I totally agree with this comment. "Real" school can be quite overwhelming to a child who has not had preschool experience.
DeleteMy older daughter went to a family day care until she was three, and then to pre school for 2 years before kindergarten (those were both mostly full day, because we both work full time).
ReplyDeleteWhen I had twins, they didn't go to preschool/daycare until just the year before kindergarten because of the double costs. When they did go (for 3 full days a week), they were ready for more structure and social interaction, and I think it was good before they started to go to kindergarten. But, I don't think they missed out by not going before then.