To think kids don't actually learn anything at preschool

[AnonBCofHate]

It seems like my kid learns a hell of alot more by staying home having a "nothing" rainy day than spending a week at preschool. I don't understand why they don't try more. Now they've sent home a letter saying they are no longer going to teach children to write their names! Which I think is the least they should be doing surely. AIBU to want them to actually teach my child!?

DS did pre-achool via their private nursery. He had a speech delay and at 3.5 wouldn't only utter his very basic sentences to a very select core of trusted people. He had light input from SLT whose main approach was targeted activities via his key worker. She was amazing and tailored so many activities to his linguistic needs far better than I ever could have. Within a year he was talking near normally and socially ready for school. Although I was doing all the right things from a parental point of view, he needed more than I could offer him by myself. When he was signed of at 6, his therapist was so proud of his transformation and what he'd achieved.

For the last week, DS2 has been skipping off merrily into his first week of school without so much as a backward glance at me. He's completely unfazed by the new routines, environmental and social setting because he is socially prepared which means he can concentrate on what school can offer him.

Actually kids learn alot through play. Wether its at home or at pre school or school.

Why do you think parents are encouraged to play with their children? Wether its something like jigsaws or playing in the parkor garden.

But you wont accept that as it seems you are in a goady mood.

There was a thread on here just the other day about how kids start school so early in this country compared to the Scandinavian model and elsewhere.

Yup, we're in Germany and our kids will start school at 6. Some parents even send their kids to a special "preschool" at 6 if they feel they haven't developed enough socially before they start school. Some kids are therefore almost 8 before they sit down at a desk. But despite losing about 3 years on the average English kid they still end up better educated, on average. They also seem a lot more confident as teenagers than your average British kid. And they get 3 years extra to play!

I could read and write the same as a 9 year old at age 3, by 5 i had a reading age of 15. You know what it gave me in terms of being better than kids who learned to read much later? nothing. I was an unhappy, bullied kid. I had no self esteem and I hated my life. I probably had depression by the age of 10.

kids need time to be kids.

GreatFuckability same with me. My parents were so proud of my advanced reading, writing and maths skills. I was miserable and lonely and to be honest, I've struggled a bit socially all my life. My parents thought they were doing their best for me by teaching me so young but it didn't make me a happy child and I don't think it has brought me any particular advantages in life.

I agree with above. IMO, preschool is about preparing them for academic learning, not beginning academic learning.
My children always come on leaps and bounds in preschool. I love hearing them come out with vocabulary that I haven't taught them and new songs, etc.
As people have said, it helps them to 'learn' how to be part of a big group, share and form friendships. I also think it helps prevent the crying that many do in reception when they're away from their parents for the first time.

Ouch
I've spent 5 years of my life studying for s degree in early childhood education and then to be an early years teacher
I shouldn't have bothers, because I'm not actually teaching anything and I'm just a glorified babysitter, according to this thread
At least I now know my place

If you are studying education (and I hope it is not early years for your own sake!) then you should understand how young children develop and learn you clearly do not!

Pre School children should be learning through play and 'hands on' experiences. Not sitting at a table and learning through 'talk and chalk'

Phonics, early maths, communication and language skills, as well as independence can and should be taught through planned and purposeful play based activities!

Is the pre school that your child attends teacher led?

You don't pay for preschool proseccoMadam

We do. DD1(3) gets 15 free hours but doesn't slightly more so we top up. DD2(2) has just started 2 mornings a week which we pay for.

This week they're learning about circles and the colour yellow. Both have mine have known their shapes and colours since before they were 2 so educationally this week they're probably not learning anything new. DD1 knows all her letters, can write her name and can read a fair few sight words, none of which came from pre school (she's really really into letters/words/numbers etc and asks to learn them at home!). DD2 knows all her colours, shapes, can count to 30 etc.
Despite all that, I am really not bothered whether they learn anything formally at pre school! They both absolutely love it, have made some fab friends, love the teachers, have learned all sorts of practical skills etc. I will continue to support their desire to learn things at home.

If you're studying education. Why are you asking Mumsnetters about a nursery that isn't teaching a 3 year old to write their name, and not.... Your teachers, your fellow students...etc

And surely you'd fucking understand that a three year old doesn't need to learn to write it's name???

I call Bullllllllll shit

insancerre I have huge respect for my childsen's pre school teachers. They have a huge range of abilities at the pre school and manage to make it a fantastic environment for everyone. My girls adore their teachers!

"Dd2 can count to 30"

*"Dd2 can count to 30"

smilehmm*

Err... what?

I would be very unhappy if preschool staff were trying to teach DD1 writing. I expect them to model and provide opportunities for the development of social skills, gross and fine motor skills and executive function skills.

Pre-school isn't the place for formal learning. No child of 3 should be sitting down doing writing practice unless they've expressed an interest in it.
At that age they should be learning through play to develop the fine motor skills needed for writing later.

DD1 has great fine motor skills but her gross motor skills aren't great so I'm happy that she gets lots of time running around outside at pre school.

ProseccoMamam glorified babysitter you say?

I should really stop doing my level 3 in early years then, ill go to work tell the rest of the staff our only job is to keep them alive

Thank fuck we wont have to do many many daily observations on the kids, no more tracking their development and planning special activites to help support them in areas. No more learning journys or profiles to write out. No more planning paperwork.

Theyll be so please.

Thank you Ecureuil
I'm not teaching writing, I'm Left ng my preschoolers climb trees instead
Its much more developmentslly appropriate

They learn to share, play, listen, watch, explore, make friends and so much more. The academic bit comes later. Pre school sets the foundation for their learning.

DS learnt nothing at pre school. It has since shut after a damming Ofsted.

DrDre but thats not all preschools. Ots shocking that happened. But not the norm

DD's pre school has an outstanding Ofsted rating, as does the only other one in our village.

I have to agree with you OP.

The preschool my DD went to kept complaining she couldn't count 1-5, she actually could count to 14 but she would always do it on her terms and she was always very shy when put on the spot.

1 week at school and she's using her fingers to count and counting out very confidently. It made me realise that preschool were doing nothing for her confidence, or maths!

Right I'm off to babysit children in the woods today.

I have read this through thinking you are one of those parents who don't understand the concept of learning through play and then I read that you are doing a degree in Education. Bloody hell, as a pp said I think you need to stop right there and go back to basics or at least sue the Uni who are delivering this course if you can't understand why Pre-School teachers are not teaching your child to write his name.

He will be too busy making circles in the air using his gross motor skills, cutting playdough with scissors and using tweezers to pick up the smallest of bugs from the tuff top, using his fine motor skills. Oh what do these skills do I hear you cry - they lay down the foundations of, when the time is right, to having the correct movement , strength and capability of learning to write their name.

I am gobsmacked that you say you are doing this degree - but what do I know......... I'm only a Pre-School teacher who gets to play with the most amazing, funny little people every day who give me a warm fuzzing feeling when we realise that what we are 'teaching' sticks. I enjoy watching the nervous, clingy child turn into an independent, confident child who I have no qualms about sending to school (even if I don't agree with them going so young)

Ellieboolou27 2 year olds aren't in pre school, that's nursery. Of course you pay for nursery.

Pre school is the class they are in the year before the join school and people who don't work generally send their children for the 15 free hours.