SAHMs: How do you feel about preschool?

I LOVE me some preschool. My son is super social and has a lot of energy, and the days when he's home all day we both go crazy (he's 3). If he didn't love it, I'd have to rethink it, but fortunately we both love it.

Before I had kids, I often said things like, "When I have kids, *I* will be raising them, not some childcare provider." But I've seen the light, and I truly cannot see any negatives for preschool, at least in our situation. It's only half a day, very child centered and it really stimulates Jack.
 
I'm a SAHM with 3 kids 5, 3 and 22mths.

My 5yr old is in Kindy (full school day 5 days) but started daycare at 15mths when I went back to work. When I stopped working I left her in daycare because she enjoyed it and I had a new baby at home. She then went to preschool 2 full days at 4yrs because it was part of the school we had chosen for her and it was excellent.

My 3yr old has been going to daycare since just before 2yrs and she goes 2 days a week school hours because I drop her there and then take my DD to school and pick her up after I pick up the kindy kid.

My DS started daycare last week and her's 22mths. He goes 1 day a week with his sister.

It depends on the daycare and preschool and what sort of programs they run. I've chosen daycare that has a good school readiness program but I know others that don't do that. I've found that kids learn more from other kids (yes, sometimes bad) and my kids love it. If they didn't like it I wouldn't send them.

I get 1 day to myself each week but that's when I do the house cleaning, shopping, errands, etc.
 
Personally I think it's overrated. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to teach a 3 year old their colors. I'm not a big fan of the socialization argument either, but that is just me. Parents should have a choice and it should not be mandated by the government to put them in all these preschool programs. It just keeps getting earlier and earlier. Some children could benefit, but most whose parents have time to teach them really don't need it. Individual, family by family case by case basis. Your children are yours, not the government's and I'm not a fan of this new idea of universal preschool. Leave it up to the parents. :)
 
stayawake said:
Jennilyn, if you are in Ontario, check out the Ontario Early Years Center nearest you... there are SO many free playgroups they offer - drop in, scheduled, music, getting messy craft ones, everything. We have one that is held doors away from me so we go every Friday. They have great toys, great staff, and do circle time and add some structure - great for getting ready for school!
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Thanks Lindy, but I'm in Nova Scotia. My hometown has a free group to go to, but not in the village where I am. :(
 
I'm a WOHM, so I didn't really have a choice - BUT after seeing how much they have to know in Kinder and First grade MY head spins. But if you are an organized mom I don't see why you couldn't teach her the things she needs to know. Me, I'm not organized and I'd end up needing to send her. I do agree it sucks though, that they don't get to be kids longer!
 
Sarah8914 said:
That's what bothers me!! Why does it matter to anyone else what you do? I'm a little worried about this. Worried about people thinking I should put her in preschool if I don't. If I didn't care about this, I think I would have my decision made easily.

By the way, my Kathryn is about your wes's age! She'll be 4 on Halloween. :)
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All of our babies are close together then!!!

Rae will be 4 on November 8. But with our cut off for school being Dec 31st, she will have to start kindy in Sept 2009, so she'll only be 4 when she starts.

I know there is a HUGE age gap there, because Amelia is starting kindy tomorrow, but her birthday is Jan 21. So she will be almost 6 entering kindy tomorrow, and there are other kids that aren't even 5 yet.
 
I don't think it's necessary. My sister's kids didn't go and they've done just fine so far, none of them had problems in kindy. I do want my girls to go tho. I want the social aspect of it, I think it'd be good for them. I'm a sahm right now, but that could change. But if not preschool, I want to get them into some program like that at least where they'll have time to be around other kids.
 
Garrett (now in all day K) started Mother's Day Out when he was 2. He went Tue and Thurs from 9:30 to 2:30. He did not gain much educationally but it was great for his speech problems and social skills.

Lance started at age 1 and went on Thursdays. This year he is in the 3 year old class and goes 2 days a week. He is in MDO for my sanity.

I have no expectations for Lance to learn his sounds or how to write. I teach him that at home. We just need that time away from each other and he needs that time to play with other children.
 
I think there are things other than strictly academic things you could teach your child at home, and should be concerned about teaching her. Self-care skills, for instance. Does she keep track of some of her own toys/clothing/belongings? Can she use the potty indepently? Can she dress herself, get her snack out of a lunchbox and eat it herself? Following a set of three instructions, for instance, is second nature to pre-school kids (go to the coat room, get your coat and line up at the door) but can be baffling to kids who haven't had that many instructions in a row.
I've been told by a few of my friends who are kindy teachers that these are even more important skills than the academic ones.

If you are worried about what people think, it is important to firmly understand WHY you are making this decision. And don't be afraid to defend it.

(say things like, we are working hard on our social skills, academic skills and self care skills at home and through a variety of methods , we have an established routine at home and feel our child is thriving there and I would rather theach my child these things myself rather than have them pick up someone elses bad habits that I have to PAY for.)

I'm facing some tough issues right now too - mine is the opposite, everyone around me is homeschooling their child and I am feeling MEGA pressure to not put my child in school. I don't know WHAT to do.
 
stayawake said:
I'm facing some tough issues right now too - mine is the opposite, everyone around me is homeschooling their child and I am feeling MEGA pressure to not put my child in school. I don't know WHAT to do.
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Mine's the opposite! LOL! Lots of private school kids but I don't know a single homeschooler in this area. I wanted to homeschool but I bowed to the pressure of regular school. We decided to just give it a shot. Hope it gets better
 
Just wanted to add how awesome so many of our kids ARE so close in age! To bad we didnt all live closer together LOL We could have our own sweet shoppe play group and wouldnt have to worry about the socialization aspect huh LOL!
 
My daughter will be going to Montessori school as soon as she is old enough (2.5 years old- she is almost 2 now). If it was a regular preschool I probably wouldn't be so excited but I'm a huge believer in Montessori- already have her school picked out and everything lol
 
My dd is now 5 and last year did 3 full days a week at a phenomenal daycare associated with an elementary school. She will do the same again this year (though she would love to go 5 days a week). When my ds masters the potty (....oh let it be soon!!!) he will go for 2 days a week. We have decided to give them what we consider the best of both worlds.
On another note, my dd could be in kindergarten now, but we have decided to 'red shirt' her. That has been a tough one to explain to everyone!!!
I say do what works for you and your kid. And if it doesn't..., change it!! You are beholden to no one :)
 
We won't be doing preschool, because we'll be homeschooling. I'm not sure how I would feel about it if we planned to send them to regular school.
 
I'm so glad to know that others are struggling with this decision! Where we are, it's expected that OF COURSE your child will go to preschool and OF COURSE you would want to send them. Katie turned 3 in August, and so I'm starting to think about what we'll do next year. I hate the idea of paying someone for what I can teach at home. We have tons of playdates already, and she's extremely social and well-mannered. I do need to be more disciplined about "teaching," but she already knows her letters and is trying to write her name, so I must not be doing too poorly.

I am considering Joy School. Has anyone done that? What do they think about it?
 
i have a friend who does one out of her home and a couple of my other friends kids are in it too. so that was a big incentive for me. my daughter is just SO social and LOVES learning anything. i don't have her in it for any real educational purposes, but i like that it teaches her how to listen to an authority figure other than her dad and myself, and it gives her a chance to interact with other kids than just the ones she's used to. and it's only twice a week for 3 hours. so it's perfect. but i have to say that if my friend wasn't doing it, then i probably wouldn't have even considered it!
 
My DS went to pre k for 2 years, started when he was 3. I worked 12 hrs a day/6 days a week then, and he kinda "had" to go. It was great for him socially too.
On the other hand, I didn't send DD to preschool. She will be 5 in January. This decision may be totally selfish, but I just wasnt ready to let go yet. I don't know that I will be ready next year either, lol. We do "school" things here at home to make sure she will be ready. I know it would of been good for her socially, but I just wasnt able to let her go.
 
I did not go back a read everyone elses post so I hope I am not just repeating what has already been said.

I like preschool. Children are expected t learn so much more these days and at a faster pace. I have my 4yr in kindergarten at a charter school. He turns 5 in Oct. so they let him in. He is very smart, writing his name, counting to 100, knows all shapes and colors and stuff like that. But he just was having a hard time adjusting because is was sooo much work. I was able to make a deal with the teacher and principal and take him home everyday early. (we have full day kinder). Anyway, he comes home with tons of work!!! I remember kindergaten being playtime, snack time, nap time and singing time. NOw the kids sit all day in desks and do tons of work. So back to my opinion, preschool is great it gets the kids ready for kinder which is not a bunch of play. It is serious work. I hope that makes sense.
 
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