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!?

By 'social skills' I mean mixing with other DC in large groups. Taking turns with many others, sharing, waiting their turn, being in a busy noisy environment and having to fit in, not the 'academic skills' of learning to write their name.
They did learn to write their name as it happens. But they also learnt how to be apart from me and DH as primary caregivers. That was far more important and wouldn't have happened otherwise.

I'm in Sweden.

You'd hate it. Kids just play until seven.

But by playing, and being in the preschool environment they learn a lot. How to get along with others. How to play together. How to dress to go out. They explore in the woods, they play in the snow. They're outside most of the time regardless of weather and they even sleep outside down to -15. Ds has come on leaps and bounds, his language has improved, he's learned signing, he's playing with other kids.

They come home knackered and rosy cheeked and happy every night from being outside all day and have a blast. I'd be nominating the teachers for sainthood if I could 😁

Why do they need formal instruction? They don't - not that early. They need to run and play and imagine and use their bodies and learn to be civilised decent little humans.

Lest you think we are hippy unschoolers, ds can also count to twenty, knows both alphabets, two languages and can also sign. He's 20months ;)

Let them play - so sad to see tiny kids cooped up in classrooms :(

i'm another one who lives in a country that doesnt start formal learning until 6/7. My son is in his last year of nursery before school and so does have some extra learning in his schedule this year. As his teacher told me this week 'this year the extra focus on learning is to be happy, to be confident and to be a good friend'

Well, bugger me! if most adults couldn't do with some more of those skills!!

I also work in this country and i'm not tripping over idiots all day long either so I guess the system works just fine. It's not perfect by any means there are still things I would change but I tell you want it does seem to produce a society who have got the balance right!

I think that it depends on the child. Whilst many probably aren't ready for formal learning, others will be and if they are I think there are benefits. My eldest child did learn to write her name, letters etc at pre school and she really loved it. My younger child went to a different preschool where they didn't do any teaching and she was quite bored. My eldest child certainly didn't have fewer social skills as a consequence of learning rather than playing all the time so I don't see why it has to be one or the other.

Tbh one of mine was not that happy at preschool. He was quiet and there wasn't any "challenge" and I don't mean learning letters and such like. It was this hands off "child led" approach and it just doesn't work for a slice of kids.

They had retained a formalish (old fashioned!) singing session and that was something he was involved with.

If I left my children's development up to their whims they'd eat soup , ice cream and sit down for most of the day. Some of us are naturally low energy and will always defer to louder kids and not try out stuff easily ( slow to warm up was it once termed?)