Tutoring for pre-school children

[mariepuree]

I think the world has gone mad. In the latest issue of Primary Timees for the South-East region (page 31) someone is offering tutoring for children from the age of 2yo to prepare them for school.

For pity sake. How on earth did parents and children cope before these money grabbing sharks existed?

You are right - the world has gone mad!

Do they mean child-minding?

Or if serious, they are clearly just trying to make money out of our anxieties as parents. Solution is clear. We need to chill.

Oh yes, in our area (SE), we have baby yoga and baby pilates [how on earth???!!], baby music lessons from 6 months[kerrist with fiddle], and yes tutoring for preschoolers.
Iz mad around here.

Mad

I think it's hilarious - babies on beds of nails, crawling over hot coals?? (Sorry! Outdated view of yoga. Not like that at all really ...) Baby karate - ee-ya! Black belts by 8 months. Baby skateboarding. I'm on a roll here. Baby transendental meditation ...

But they serve a purpose, don't they? In the past we used to go to parent and toddler groups. It's just another way of getting parents and kids out of the house and meeting people. If there's music too, so much the better, imo.

Mad.

Although I think baby yoga and the like is for parents really.

The advert says "Tutoring for childen 2-5 year old. Is your child ready for school? Numbers, letters, sounds". Then they give a mobile number. Not even a landline because then they can't be traced to be challenged about their predatory exploitation of parents anxieties.

For goodness sake, most parents are able to teach their child numbers and the abc. However, their real learning starts when they go to school. Why the rush? My DTS could not write a word when they started reception but knew numbers and their abc. I wanted them to learn about the world round them so spent time visiting parks, learning about trees, birds etc but also gave them free reign to play because I believe that is where they really learn. By the end of the first half term they could write their full name!

I feel so sorry for young children these days. The expectations of over-wrought parents lacking in confidence in their children's ability and their ability as parents is scandalous IMO. Our European cousins have the right idea. Children start school at 6 or 7 and they are disadvantaged because of it.

they are not disadvantaged because of it!

Agree, mariepuree.

Yes, we have that in our area as well. However, it is not that surprising given that the pre-schools attached to the local private schools assess 2.5 year old to determine if they have what it takes to succeed academically. I kid you not - never realised scissor skills were such an accurate indicator of intellectual ability!

There is a tutor on the preschool forum asking if parents would be interested in the service

Actually I tutor (older kids) and tend to give out my mobile number. Not because I don't want to be tracked down (people know where I live - it's no massive secret) but purely practical - if I'm out and about supply teaching and in pupils' houses - ringing my landline is going to be pretty pointless to be honest!

Doesn't make me a predatory exploiter or anything - I'm just hardly at home so it's easier to get me on the electronic ball and chain.

It's curious, looking at my brood and my experience that nearly every child that starts in a top set/top table scenario tends to stay there.

There are the few that make huge strides and a few who fall down but by and large starting out ahead seems to mean you stay ahead.

Not saying I agree, I think little ones should have learn through play actually but just an observation.

I have something even madder. I saw a similar ad but the advertiser also says "I can teach your child while still in the womb"

If you consider that some parents are just used to outsourcing everything and are willing to pay someone to tell them what their preschooler needs to know to pass the interview process for highly selective prep schools is it suprising?

A tutor probably knows what schools look for and it's very easy to encourage those skills through targeted play. It's not just scissor skills but a child who is developmentally ahead (good fine motor skills, good social skills etc) is likely to stay ahead.

Incidentally so much is made of children in Europe starting schools later but the 'preschool' education is much better than you find here and the majority of children are in the system of collective childcare from birth, therefore they're exposed to that education. For example in France 'school' starts at 6. Preschool (maternelle) starts at the earliest at 2.9 and it's basically school but playing...The children there are exposed to a lot of the foundation skills for numeracy, reading, writing etc in a school environment. Similar systems across Europe. It's Early Years Education by stealth but it's not compulsory so children do 'start school' later.

People like this probably use pre-school tutoring services. (Only pregnant but already planning the route to a particular selective secondary)

TBH I can see why - you see horrific 11+ threads on here and the race seems to be starting earlier and earlier!