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Originally Posted by abaya
Well, damn... my parents started me in a Montessori Pre-K when I was 3 or 4 and haven't gotten a break from school since.  Here's to 25 years of continuous education!  Maybe my parents should've given me the extra year to "be a kid?" (What does that mean, anyway? I LOVED being in school more than being at home--most likely because I was an only child, and easily bored at that.) |
Same here. I was in a Montessori-style co-op preschool, so a couple days a week my mom came to school with me to help out.
Your child should already be familiar with the alphabet, colors, shapes, and numbers by the time they reach kindergarten. To truly be where they need to be, they should be working on learning to read and add small numbers prior to entering kindergarten. If your school district has only a full-day program, pre-k is certainly recommended; going from zero school to a full day of school, all week, is rough on kids who aren't used to it. Your child should also be well socialized--the kindergarten teacher (and teachers beyond that, on up to third grade) can pick out the ones that aren't. Obviously, preschool plays a huge role in socializing children, with a lot less work on the part of a parent.
Let's face facts: many parents are lazy or busy and lack knowledge when it comes to early childhood education. Yes, you could make sure that your child has all of these things under his or her belt before they reach kindergarten, but wouldn't you rather trust it to a professional? Preschool teachers--especially those in the Montessori or Waldorf methods--are professionals! They have gone to school to learn how to teach your child in the best way possible. They've already done all the legwork so you don't have to.
I'd say more often than not, preschool is a good idea. With Montessori and Waldorf methods, children still get plenty of time to be kids at school while socializing and learning important skills. If you're hesitant about letting your child go, co-op preschool is a good route.