BellaOnline Forums Education Preschool Education Academic Tutoring for Preschoolers???

In the never-ending push for achievement, some parents are enrolling their preK kiddos in organized "tutoring" centers to beef up on academics in order to meet the "rigors of elementary school."

See Kindergarten Prep - The Academic Push.

I'm a believer that pre-school programs should incorporate academics into their curriculum--through play and song. But putting munckins into Sylvan or Kumon? Oi...

This is originally why I kept my son out of preschool. Here in FL they're "prep schools" thanks to high stakes testing.

I toured a couple of preschools and was shocked by what I saw..

Learning ABCs/123s, beginning handwriting skills and some basic sight words is one thing, but the Sylvan and Kumon Junior style programs are fairly intense.

It's ridiculous and I pity the poor kids being put in these programs. All of the parents using these programs need to be forced to read "Einstein Didn't Use Flashcards" first!!!

Meg

I remember being asked to find a preschool for a 3 year old I was tutoring (yeah, tutoring). I wanted a hands-on approach for her and I HAD TROUBLE finding one in this area. Seriously. Most of them used traditional curriculum that I would NEVER want to see in a preschool classroom...

I did find one that used a play-based approach, but it took some looking.

Have you guys read this:

The New First Grade: Too Much Too Soon?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14638573/site/newsweek/

That was my son's kindergarten class. It was horrible. It took us forever to find a school that met his needs instead of the other way around. He's in a publicly funded charter school now; but they don't teach to the test--they teach to the kids. They still have state testing to cope with, but they still manage to have exemplary ratings by making sure learning takes place at the child's pace.

PS-The baby (now 21 mos.) is in a Montessori program and will be there through Kinder. We love it!

I've seen people who use flashcards from BIRTH and have serious learning time schedualed throughout the day. One person who said that she did it because her son was "advanced." How advanced can a newborn be? I think parents who do this have issues.

Kids don't need that, they need to play.

We have extended family and the one of the little boys is 9 months older then my son (mom is a pre-K teacher). She brought home stuff to teach her son from the time he was little, I did none of that and they both managed the same skills at the same age-Even with my son's regressions, both boys are at the same level for reconizing letters and counting, now.

You can't force their little brains to learn before they are ready. It's just wrong to try. To be honest I would consider forcing all that on young children to be abuse.

Play and learning are easily intermingled, its a pity more places don't do this. Nothing like digging in the dirt and talking about bugs and worms.

Play is learning.

We unschool for this reason!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Play can certainly result in learning.

The LLL has the bestest (yes, i know that's not a word, LOL) book on play learning out there. I can't remember the title of it, but it was all about preschool at home and was a great primer to starting homeschooling. I wish I could remember the title of it, but maybe someone out there can find it! it is a fantastic book!

meg

I do think preschool is important for youngsters but not push academics too hard on them. Play time can be learning as well if the teachers know what the needs of the children are. I don't like "preschools" that are just day care centers where the children run all willy nilly with absolutely no structure at all. They need structure and routines mixed with the ability to be preschoolers too. That is so hard to find in some places.

I believe children go to institutions like daycare and preschool too early--but I know I'm probably the minority!

Jan, I agree with you.

Mmm.... I think it's less an issue of "age" and more an issue of individual development. Some children are ready for structure early, others later, and some never.

I do, however, think intense structure prior to age 5 or 6 can do more harm than good.

Oh I agree...I'm just saying that learning that happens at home (with an involved parent) is underestimated in today's society.

Unfortunately, Jan, some parents have no choice especially single Mommas who bust their hineys to make ends meet for their children and the majority of 2 parent homes, they both have to work. My kids went to day care. My son went just because I worked in the baby room and he was in there with me so I got to be with him all day (sort of) and get a paycheck. Plus my now ex husband would neglect him if I left him at home. When I went to college and had my daughter, they both went to the day care and preschool on campus because he would still neglect them. I would have to leave food where my son could get to it if i had to leave him at home. Needless to say, he is gone now. So, some people don't have a choice.