Send Child to Preschool?

Question

I have a 2 year old, and I have been told I need to send him to preschool (by my mother-in-law of course) and I cannot decide if I really want to. I've called several of them, and I hate to say it, but when did being a child become all about stuffing your heads so full of stuff at such a young age? I am totally for education, have a college degree etc, but teaching 2 year olds to write the alphabet seems a little much to me. I called sevearl churches that have mother's day out programs and they are the same, they go by the school day hours, and have a Sept-May year. I want my son to have fun and learn by doing things, but I don't want to put him at a disadvantage though because of not sending him and he is behind what is expected in Kindergarten. We do things, but it's not like a set structured schedule all day every day, I've tried that, and I had a hard time keeping to it because I have things I need to do too (errands, tending to the other kids etc). Anyone have advice?

Answer 1

I also have a child that just turned 2 in September...I would NEVER think of sending him to preschool at such a young age. They learn through exploring....touching, breaking, dropping, grabbing, etc.. Let him/her be a child (baby) like they are. I plan to take my son to preschool starting at 3 maybe 4...

Mother-in-laws always think they know whats best...what the heck ever!!!

Answer 2

I have a 2YO and a 4YO. I started leaving my oldest at short MDO programs during my OB visits while pregnant with my second, and I started her in preschool at age 3. The second child also started preschool this year. I think it's necessary for their social and spiritual development, even though they get plenty of academic development at home. They are learning to be independent and respect authority other than mine. I've heard from many mothers that did not take their kids to some sort of program before starting kindergarten that their child had major adjustments to make to going to school that their classmates did not. I feel it is best for my kids.

I was really worried when I first started looking at schools. In my area, they all seemed very pretentious and expensive, and I was worried about overstimulating them. Plus many of them run on the school day schedule (which seems long for this age) and absolutely require potty training with no exceptions by a certain age. And I wanted one that would take both my kids, and some only start at age 3. I must have investigated 30 schools before I found out about a church-run preschool LESS THAN A BLOCK away from me from a neighbor. It's only part-time two days a week, and I think it's stimulating enough without being unreasonable, and didn't have all the rules about potty training and such.

And the bonus benefit is that you can do those errands and tending to other kids and such more effectively while your child is at preschool. And learn to become independent yourself! ;)

Good luck. You will know what is best for your child.

Answer 3

I am a stay at home mom, and my son is four. He has never been to preschool but has been to playgroups and such. He and I spend a few hours a day "playing" together. He can read 2nd and 3rd grade books, he can add and subtract, tell time on a standard clock, spell four and five letter words. I'm not trying to brag on my child, but I do believe that you as a parent can teach your child pretty much everything that they can learn in preschool and more. I would suggest that you work with your child, read to them, do puzzles, etc, and take them to a playgroup once a week or so. They are only this young once so why hurry to get them out of the house if you dont have to?

Answer 4

I feel your confusion as I'm already having the same confusion on my son who's just 16 months. I have a degree in Early Chiodhood Education and was so delighted to be able to be a SAHM and use my degree towards him and only him. I've worked in preschool settings for 5 years prior to having my son and just knowing what the requirements are for the teachers...LITTLE...I know that if I do wish to send my son to preschool you better believe I will have him in a class with a teacher that has a bachelor's degree. Originally I thought that sending him 1/2 day from 9-12 would be the best for him....however the more I'm spending time with him, the more he's learning just from me and the more activities that I have him involved in I don't think that it will be necessary to send him. The parents are the best source of teaching for their children. My son is learning words, manners (signs please and thank you), we explore outside by collecting things on walks ie acorns, leaves, bugs, we read, we build, we have playdates, we go to exercise classes to interact in a different setting. The only down fall if I dont send him to preschool would be that come time for kindergarten it will be hard on both of us to part but that will be something we will get through together and there are activities the older he gets that I will be able to drop him off for a few hours. A child can learn just as much outside of a preschool at home with their parents, if not more, depending on how dedicated you are.

Answer 5

My son was enrolled in Preschool at age 4. The Preschool he attended was part of an Elementary school. They didn't enroll any children that are younger than 4 years old. But for children that are 3 and will be turning 4 when school starts or a few months after school begins they would be on the list, and as long as they are listed they will become part of the class. My niece who is a year younger was enrolled in the same Preschool class after my son graduated.

Preschool to me is preparing your child for Kindergarden. I feel it might overwhelm a child at age 2 if one were to attend class at that age. There is nothing wrong with teaching a 2 year old the basics like learning the Alphabet, numbers, reading etc. It's something most parents should be doing at home anyways to prep them when they are ready for school.

Answer 6

Why don`t you try homeschooling?
Your child can stay home and learn by a parent, family member, or a tutor.


Homeschooling is much cheaper, and you get a new book every year for harder lessons.

Your child does not have to wear street clothes,

You can teach him when ever you want.

He will not be scared or lonley or have to worry about bullies, Cause its just him and you.

How will he make friends, i bet your thinking.

Its best to put him in a program he likes..

Such as a toddlers reading group, day care, etc.
Or just playing in the park with Nearby children.


No letters from the teachers because your child had to pee...

No annoying letters from them,
No school suing you because the kid broke a swing :-)

And His Playground/Recess Is His Whole Back Yard!


I recommend your child should use the computer more.

Blackdog4kids.com is a good site, dragontales.com, sesamestreet.com..

Let him know about Ask.com And Google.com


Buy him a cauculator, sharpener, pencil, eraser, glue, crayons, childrens scissors, small notepad... And any good thing he can measure with....

Set up a certain room for him to do schoolwork,

Buy him a backpack, just to hold his things.

Set up a lunch room,


Your kitchen, can be that.

You could be the lady behind the counter :-)

Make him the food before school and put it in his Lunch Box.
( Buy him one to make him feel special c-8)

Give him atleast 20 mins to eat,
Let him play in your yard for 20 mins,
And school work for 20 mins.

Dont tourture your kid with all school,

Give him some fun!

( 7 School breaks for tv, play, bathroom, etc. all for 10 mins or less)


While your busy, Try and find a baby sitter to watch and tutor him....

Make sure the baby sitter is a family member or a friend.... ( Women Can be most trusted)

Give her/him a list of what you teach him, for how long, what you do, in what order, etc.

For math, use candy and stuff. He will like that...

If he did good, give him some of that candy!

Always reward your kid when he did good work.

Candy, balloons, tv time, extra playing, longer sleeping, sleeping when he wants, getting up when he wants, new toys or stuffed animals, etc.


It all expires the next day. ( he keeps toys n stuffed animals, candy if he didnt eat it, balloons, he can keep forever, its just a fun little bag of air.) Unless he does more good work doing school or around the house.




More time with your children,
More fun for him too.











Also, write a precentage of how you think how good it was on the page. as so for example 66%

If he gets 80 % or higher, thats when he should get an award.

Answer 7

I am actually going to school for early childhood education. I believe your son would have fun and learn at the same time. Teachers of young children learn that the kids learn best through play. Believe it or not sending him to preschool will work out better for him. Preschool will have him prepared for the next level. It would also teach him to be on a set schedule which would definitely work out for you. Most of all, when he reaches school age, he'd already have know the criteria that is needed to set him on the correct path of learning (with the right help of course). Try looking into preschool programs that best fits your interest and your son's as well. Good luck.

Answer 8

I have a two year old also and I think it's way too early for her to go to preschool. The schools here, also, will not take your child if they are not potty trained. I'd get some books and teach your son colors, the alphabet, shapes, his body parts (if he doesn't know all of this already) in preparation for preschool. Yes, kids need social interaction though. Do you have a family center or YMCA that has play groups, as they're usually free for a few hours (I can't beleive that I read that the preschools in your area go all day for a two year old....that's too much as you know how their attention span is!), or what about a MOPS group? Mops stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. They usually meet, in a church, once a week for a few hours. You can still attend even if you aren't a church goer or even attend the particular church that has it. Check out www.mops.org for more information. Good Luck!

Answer 9

one year before a child goes to kindergarten, it is a good idea to send them to preschool so they can adjust without having to go all day, every day. a 2 year old does NOT need to go to preschool. thats ridiculous. Your mother in law may mean well but she is wrong. All of the preschools or mothers morning out programs that I know of (quite a few) are basically play groups at that age & they only last 2-4 hours. They may sing the ABC songs and things like that, but its not any kind of formal setting b/c a 2 year old does not need that much structure. Just show him colors and shapes as your playing, give him crayons only when he wants to color. Making them so young will do more harm than good.

If you just wanted to put in him a preschool or mothers morning out he would be just fine (as long as its just 1-3 morning per wk. more than a few hours is WAY too much!!) At age 3 you may want to see that he is getting some kind of interaction with kids, cousins, friends, sunday school, whatever... doesn't need to be preschool. but please trust your instincts. he does NOT NEED preschool! If the ones you have called about are all day programs I would never do that to a child unless I just HAD to work.
If your mother in law says anything else just kindly, flat out tell her what you have decided.
Good luck

Answer 10

I hate the fact that kids as young as 3 are going to preschool. When we were younger, we went to nursery school at age 4, and I'm a bit more comfortable with that, just to get them used to being in a school-type environment and interacting with other kids. At 2, I see no need for it, and obviously you feel the same. Ignore your MIL, and do what you feel is best. I feel they especially don't need it that young if they are around other people already on a regular basis. My daughter goes to a regular sitter where she has interacted with both other kids and adults, and has had the opportunities to go places as well. She is perfectly normal for her age, developmentally, and I have no doubt she would be just fine if I sent her straight to kindergarten at age 5. She also has learned things on days she has gone to daycare, cuz they have a preschool-like teaching part of the day for the kids of that age. Although I think daycare would be a bit more laid back than regular preschool. You are doing fine, and your son will be fine too, I'm sure. It will be no detriment to him if he doesn't attend preschool at age 2.