Planning to HS, What to do About Preschool?

[SparklingGemini]

I know this is a common question but I'm really unsure how to decide what to do about sending DD to preschool.

This is my tentative list of pros and cons:

Pros~
Socialization in a regular group setting for DD
Personal time for Mama
Introduction to educational ideas in a playful setting
Possibility for Mama to make a bit of $$ while DD is in school

Cons~
Financial consideration
Preschool drama and learning undesirable traits/subject matter/values etc.
Potential separation anxiety
Possible lack of readiness
Mama missing baby girl


I'm sure there are more but this is just of the top of my head. I am really, really torn. I know we are going to HS, possibly US, so preschool seems sort of redundant or unnecessary. But DD is sorely lacking in consistent playmates or friends and being the social butterfly she is, I think she would benefit from the availability of kids and a school.

Can someone let me know what led them to making their final decision?

[SoCaliMommy]

What about joining a playgroup so then there'd be interaction with the same set of kids and it'd be free.

[SeekingJoy]

A playgroup of HS kids might be a good fit.

[rahrahgobg]

You may be able to find playgroups in your area from Meetup.com or Yahoo! Groups. I would look there. They don't have to be HS based. Just group that gets together a few times a week. I don't put my kids in preschool. We could afford it, but I just don't want to. I don't want to pay for it when I stay home so we don't have to pay for it. It's likely most people my age didn't GO to pre-school, and we all turned out 'fine'. That is of course, debatable, but you know what I mean. LOL!

I just come from the camp of 'I don't think pre-school is necessary because the kids will all learn what they learn in pre-school at home, or in time'.

Others may disagree, but that is what makes forums fun. You get to see others perspectives.

[kgianforti]

hi, I'm a homeschooling mom to a preschooler! I do have a question and pardon if it's dumb, but is your dd turning two on 7/1 - I didn't know preschools took children so young?

We started "pre-preschool" this past January - May. We are going to do Prek/K this coming Sept. Our main reason for homeschooling is to provide our kids with a Bible based education. Options (ie private Christian school) are limited in a small rural town!

As for socialization, dd has friends at church and her cousins and we are in a MOMS group. Next summer, she will be old enough to join a summer soccer league (she has to be 4).

My dd is also a social butterfly and I don't think she is bothered by the lack of consistent social interactions.

I agree that if you are going to HS in K then going to preschool seems redundant. Why not just HS PreK and look for local activities and groups for her to hang out in.

[SparklingGemini]

We do have a playgroup we attend and LLL toddler meeting we go to and library storytime, so DD is getting social interaction. Just not always with the consistency that I think she craves.

I have a hard time with this because my degree is in ECE and CD but I don't always agree with the way preschools are run and I'm completely against preschools as a way to create a structured learning environment. Play-based, emergent curriculum, community oriented schools are awesome though. But they cost more.

[shoefairy3]

I dont think preschool is nessecary

[SparklingGemini]

Originally Posted by shoefairy3

I dont think preschool is nessecary

Thanks! See these are the type of statements my over-analyzing mind craves when I'm feeling indecisive.

[kgianforti]

PS. I never went to preschool myself.

[shoefairy3]

Originally Posted by SparklingGemini

Thanks! See these are the type of statements my over-analyzing mind craves when I'm feeling indecisive.

Glad to help

[SparklingGemini]

Originally Posted by kgianforti

hi, I'm a homeschooling mom to a preschooler! I do have a question and pardon if it's dumb, but is your dd turning two on 7/1 - I didn't know preschools took children so young?

We can put her in as early as 2 or 2.5 but I probably wouldn't do it until three or older. The main problem is that many schools here are in high demand and you pretty much need to be on a waitlist for 6-12 months. Which means I would need to decided in the next few months depending on when I would want her to start.

[annettemarie]

When my first was little, we were part of a lovely little playgroup with two other mamas. Once a week, we took turns hosting. The kids played and the mamas visited, we all made a snack together, then we did a craft and a story and maybe a little game. It was all very gentle and Waldorf-inspired, and I felt like it both helped to meet Michael's needs to play with others and my needs to be with other grown-ups (as well as helped calm my fears about him being "socialized".)

[skueppers]

My daughter goes to preschool although we plan to homeschool from grade K. The preschool is a play-based language immersion program. We plan for her brother to go there as well when he is old enough (which, aside from the language-immersion benefits, will provide one-on-one schooling time for my daughter and me).

I certainly don't think having her go to preschool is in any way necessary, and it definitely has its pros and cons. For us, the language immersion program is what makes it worthwhile.

Before she was in preschool, we were part of a cooperative "structured playgroup" where a group of families got together on a regular basis for a preschool-like experience. I do the same thing now with my younger child. We have free play time, snack time, craft/activity time, and circle time. This has been great for the kids and the parents, and has the tremendous benefit of being essentially free.

[justthinkn]

I'm at about the same stage as you, and I'm leaning away from preschool for lots of the con's you mentioned, but also b/c I'm excited to have the time to build confidence in how my DD can learn at home, in a really relaxed way, while she is still so little. I'm worried that I would lose confidence, or at least miss the opportunity to grow in it!

[racheleuphoria]

We did preschool at 3 for one year. It's what made me know I wanted to HS. You can do SO much better than preschool at home and with playgroups. I think that preschool is actually NOT HELPFUL for socialization (bad examples) or optimal development (so often it's early academics).

[scheelimama]

Even if we were not homeschooling I don't believe preschool is necessary at 2 or 3, and possibly not even at 4. I've been debating putting my 4.5 yr old in preschool this year, but she's an older 4 and been pretty crabby about being at home lately. In the end, I think sending them to preschool sets them up to be excited about going to public school for K, when it's really not that exciting at all. But it's the job of these teachers to train them to think that it's going to be really cool. So, we won't be sending dd4 to preschool and probably won't send any of our other children to preschool ever.

I was also a part of a wonderful playgroup when my kids were that age. I think that's where you need to be. And don't forget library story times, they are wonderful too! Playgroups and storytimes are great until they are 4-5 yrs old, then you'll want to find a homeschool group for socialization.