[*Lana*]

When did you start your LO in preschool? Or do you wish you had started your LO earlier or was whenever you did just right? What are things to look for in a program (whenever it's time)? Or is it best to do it at home before they're 3?
DD is advanced, but I don't consider her to be gifted at this point (22 months).

[BensMom]

We only did preschool for a very short time... and it as dh's idea, not mine. My 5 year old at that time was 26 months. He was in an "advanced" preschool for 18 mos - 5 years, and their claim to fame was that sometimes their kids were able to go straight into 1st grade. My 26 month old was already reading, though. He already knew colors, shapes, numbers, etc. Didn't matter, though. They sent home a progress report telling me he didn't even know how to hold a cup. He was terrified of that place. There was only one teacher he liked (of about 4). He didn't like any of the kids, and he certainly didn't like any of the "daycare" rules (like kids can't touch the books because they're only for teachers???).

Personally, I don't think preschool is necessary for anyone unless they have some type of special need that should be addressed before starting school. Yes, I'm a homeschooler, but I'm NOT an anti-schooler (as in public school). I'm a former teacher myself. I know the public and private schools have their pros and cons just like homeschooling does. However, I think homeschooling is usually the best option at the preschool level. There are so many things that can and should be taught at home, and besides, your children are truly "yours" for only a very tiny percentage of their lifespan. If your daughter lives to be 80 and you keep her at home with you until she's 5, you've only been the major influence over her for 6% of her life.

I don't get offended when people don't agree with me, so you're welcome to take this or leave it. I just think she can learn much more through library storytimes, local art classes, playdates with familiar friends, and things like that than she can being stuck in a room with 15 other kids putting up with those kids going through their potty trainings, biting phases, hitting phases, etc. No privacy or encouragement when going to the restroom (my son was already trained, but he regressed after seeing what level of training he was "supposed" to be on with other 26 mo olds ), and on and on... She'll pick up on what the other kids are doing and become part of a pack heirarchy. She won't be free to learn whatever her interests are. You'll learn more in the first 5 years of your life than you'll ever learn at any phase of your lifetime. Why waste it?

[Butter]

I agree with BensMom. I wouldn't send her anywhere. Just not necessary. It's funny. When my parents started school they didn't have kindergarten. They went directly into first grade at age 6. When I started school we had kindergarten at 5 (back when cut off dates for most states were much later... here in MD it was 12/31 so some kids were 4 when they started school). It was very unusual for kids to go to preschool. Pretty much the only ones who did were the ones who had both parents working (which, for my kindergarten class was only a couple or three kids!). Now it seems like most kids go to preschool and there is a lot of talk about free preschool for all and possibly making it mandatory. Crazy how things change like that.

All that said, I don't think it's necessary (excluding special needs that can be served well in the preschool system) for kids to go to preschool. You can do it just fine with her following her cues. I once read something by a kindergarten teacher. She said she could always pick out the kids who attended preschool. Not because they were in any way advanced over the other kids. In fact, they weren't. They were pretty equal to the other kids. So what could they do? Line up in a straight line very well. Of course the kids who didn't attend preschool were able to do that, too, within a couple weeks at which point there were no differences.

We homeschool (also not anti-school here). Fritz did Tot School (basically, directed playing) until just before he turned 4. Then we did Calvert Pre-K double speed. It was fun. Totally unnecessary, but a great introduction to school. Now he's 4 1/2 and is doing Calvert Kindergarten double speed (and he's not one of my gifted kids lol). I'll probably start my 2 1/2 year old (who is one of my gifted kids) on Calvert Pre-K in the fall. He'll be just past 3. He could do it now, but he's kind of stubborn and Tot School is plenty for now. I didn't do preschool with either of my older two and I might not with the little two if they weren't insisting on doing school like their big siblings.

[HS&Fsmom]

Well, my mom is a former teacher at the hottest preschool in town and is still best friends with the director. That said, the teachers were clamoring for my kids to be in their class while I was pregnant with them.

Hugo has been in the 2-day 3's class for a semester already (well, "older 2's" but essentially he's the only one still 2, everyone else had their b-day right away when school started). I didn't think it was "necessary" for him to go especially since he was being cared for almost 1-1 by my retired teacher mother during the day anyway. But he was interested in going and he is very social, and then add in the social sort of obligation with my mom's affiliation, so that is how we decided to enroll him. I wanted to wait til he was fully potty trained in underwear but that was a non-issue b/c he was well before he was old enough to enroll (lol).

So far it has been a GREAT experience. Some kids in his class are not as verbal as he is (so he just doesn't play with them really), but the ones that are the most verbal, he has become really good friends with. There are 4-5 kids that he talks about ALL the time and we are glad that one of them will be in his class next year. (very competitive process to get the 3-day class and is limited to 4 from the current group )

They do a variety of activities but I think the most important part is just for him to experience being around other people and other personalities and learn to resolve conflicts independently. The teachers are there to guide him but I hold him to expectations probably higher than a "typical" 2-3 year old. So far the experience has given him plenty of opportunities to practice social skills. I also like that he gets help with art, phonics, religion, turn-taking, roles and duties (helper of the day), etc. Not that we don't give him any of that from home, but I like that it is reinforced through another outlet.

He really loves it and I don't have any complaints.

[challowell]

I have Rachel in preschool due to my wanting to have her interact with kids her age. She is ahead of th other kids but she enjoys having new friends .

[shari626]

I never sent my children to preschool. I was never against it, I just used to be a preschool teacher and couldn't see paying someone else to do what I went to college for. As far as socialization, I have four so that wasn't an issue. I felt that I could teach my child what they needed to know in a fun environment and I have never regretted it. My kids do go to public school and started out in kindergarten ahead of many of the other kids who did go to preschool.

[*Lana*]

Thank you for all our wonderful replies! I had been thinking that I "should" find some sort of program for her soon, but I feel better about not doing it now. I have always figured I would put her into the preschool at our church when she's old enough--I may still do that, but possibly more for the religious learning.

I am about to become an unemployed SAHM (too bad SAHM's don't have better "wages" or I would love to be a SAHM!), so I look forward to starting to work with DD more. She currently does some of the stuff that her sitter does with the preschool aged kids (she had been going to a sitter part-time) and enjoys that...when she's interested. She will go back to the same sitter when I find a new job.

[Mattiez]

Both my kids attended preschool when they were 4.
Steven went about 3 days a week, and Kathryn went half days. (We lived in different places)
They both absolutely loved it. Everyday they would come home with stories of activities they did in class and friends they made. It was a truly a special and exciting time for them.
They already knew the basics of colors and counting and all, but it was there time to be with friend and explore new and wonderful things.
Steven went to a Christian preschool and Kathryn went to preschool through the Department of Defense system. They were different but both really good.
It also gave me a break so that when I picked them up a few hours latter everyone was excited to be back together and chattering away.
Mattiez