Who Needs Preschool Right Now? -

Who Needs Preschool Right Now?

This little guy will be three in February and I am utterly ambivalent about sending him off to preschool. Maybe it's because we really can't afford the extra cost right now. Or because I've gone through preschool anxiety twice already and another go-round doesn't thrill me. It could also be because he's my last baby and I'm not ready to give him up to the school day schedule just yet.

When I lived in NYC this wasn't a choice it was mandatory. To even get your child enrolled in a good school you had to prove they'd gone through pre-preschool programs. I knew people who hired consultants just to get them through the application process. Living in the country, I don't feel the same kind of urgency. There are times when I worry he might need a more formal education but then according to an unbiased assessment (okay well not completely unbiased) I realize he's mastered key areas of toddler development, for example:

Socialization: comfortably eases his way through social situations with key phrases like "It's my turn," "That's mine," and "He did it."

Natural Sciences: can distinguish between deer, cow, dog, goose, and bear poop.

Technology: can program cellphones to respond in Spanish and uninstall important software

Psychology: performed extensive stress and behavioral experiments with canine and rodent subjects ( sorry Kisses and Ralphie)

Anatomy: able to name body parts at appropriate and inappropriate moments

Improvisation: taken to mixing in phrases like "Oh, Dang It," "Oh Maaan!," and "Never mind" into his speech

These are just a selected handful of his skills. So do you think he needs preschool right now? I'm thinking he's ready to skip straight to college.

See also: preschool

Written by Sandra

Posted on 12/09/2008

See all posts by Sandra

Answers:

I honestly don't really believe in pre-school for the most part. If your child is reaching milestones without it (which it is obvious he is) then why spend the money. You can teach him the things he needs to know before kindergarten (numbers, letters, colors, shapes, how to spell his name, etc). I never went to preschool and I graduated at the top of my class in HS and graduated in the top 25% of my class in college. Preschool is overrated for children who don't really need it.

posted by Katie on 12/23/2008

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