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

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 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

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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