I opted out of having my 3 y.o. start preschool this coming year, any ideas of the curriculum?

Question

I would like to work with my son on what is covered in preschool. He will still attend preschool, just not 2 years of it. He is a quick learner but I need info from a teacher or parent that their child has already attended preschool so I can have a baseline to make sure he is up to speed. He will be 4 y.o. in November. thanks.

Answer 1

Don't worry about teaching too much academics. Your son will be learning these things in preschool. You wouldn't learn German before you took a German class right? A lot of parents worry about this. They feel their child should know the curriculum before they enter preschool to give them a "one up." These children usually end up bored because they are relearning things that they already know. Social and emotional readiness is more important than academic readiness. If your son does not have a lot of exposure to other children (one on one and in small groups several times a week), do whatever you can to get him exposed to other children his age as much as possible..

You can work on him learning just a few letter sounds and numbers. You want him to have the basic knowledge that a given symbol represents a given sound or number. You can play games like "I spy" with him. "I spy in my little eye something that starts with the letter "mmmmm." Teach him lower case letters! His teacher will expect him to learn lower case first since these letters are in most of our writing. You can have a flash card with the symbol for him to recognize as well as object for him to match the card to. Play some counting games with him as well. Count how many cars go by, count the blocks, or count out how many forks you will need for dinner. Keep it fun!

If he cannot hold a pen or pencil properly, take it away from him so he does not develop bad writing habits. To help build hand strength, get him some manipulative toys such as Lego’s and K’Nex. Have him use play dough. He can use a little scrub brush to scrub potatoes. Let him use tweezers to pick up small items, such a beads or cotton balls. He can also make letters in a small dish of cornmeal or sand. Once he has developed some hand strength, get him a pencil grip so he can practice holding a pencil. Write his name on a piece of cardboard (or letters) and he can trace them using tracing paper.

These are some things that you can work with him before he starts school: holding a pencil in an orthodox way, recognize his name, write his name (upper case first letter followed by lower case), sitting quietly for 10 to 15 minutes, know 8 basic colors, cutting with scissors, using glue, learn a few basic shapes, painting, follow directions, gaining respect for adults, dress himself, and taking care of ALL bathroom needs. Encourage independence, concentration, coordination, self-control, courtesy, patience, and self esteem. Relax and good luck!

Answer 2

I run and in home day care and I worked with Head Start for four years. We teach the children colors, numbers and how to write their letters. We talked about the weather and the different days of the weeks and months. You can go to a parent teacher store and they will have some wonderful ideals.

Answer 3

I started my eldest daughter at pre school 5 weeks ago, she went for two weeks then refused to go. I found out that she was being made to sit on her matress for two and a half hours (she was meant to sleep but wouldn't) I read their list of things they expect the child to do by the end of the year and was suprised that my daughter could already do all of them. I have cancelled her enrollment and she will continue to learn at a much better level at home with me or at my mother's house when she visits. My daughter can count to 20 write to 20, say the alphabet, knows her colours, animals etc...
Use scissors, colour in, share toys, butter her own bread, get her own drink, wipe her own bottom, put a nappy on her sister (I couldn't believe it when I saw her doing it), put on lipstick hehehe.

No seriously teach your child as much as he can take in but never get mad at him, they do their best, and they all learn at different speeds.

My daughter will be 4 next month and I am hoping to avoid taking her to the new prep year they have introduced in QLD AUSTRALIA, I KNOW SHE LEARNS MORE WITH ME.
And i have never had a problem with her playing with other children in social situations, she is polite, confident and happy.

Answer 4

Our local library has learning kits, that daycares/preschools check out, and so can anyone else. For example they have a kit all about frogs. That might be fun - and educational. I found preschool is more about social interactions, ettiquette, than learning anything different than you might at home.

Answer 5

I didn't send my daughter at that age either. Colors, numbers, letters, and shapes. Still mostly play. They do have workbooks you can get for that age. I found that games like candyland and chutes and ladders pass the test of time when it comes to engaging little ones and teaching them basic concepts.