ZombieSquirrel brings up some good points, especially about standards of care. One underlying problem with early childhood education is the u-shaped curve present due to cost; low-income families qualify for Head Start, which is generally very good, and high-income families can afford to pay more for quality care. In the middle, we have a hodgepodge of providers, both home-based and center-based. It is difficult for parents to slog through all of the choices out there for care and education, but the good news is that there is one easy thing to look for. There is an accreditation process for early childhood education, and good preschools generally participate in this accreditation, which is done by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the professional organization for early childhood educators. You can read more about it here: Accreditation | NAEYC

I was pretty much the only kid in Kindergarten that didn't know the ABCs. My parents didn't teach them to me, and I would have learned them in pre-school. If you can learn anything of that value, it's worth it; I struggled early on in Kindergarten because I lacked similar knowledge as this.

I do worry that the Kindergarten curriculum is geared a bit too much to the lowest common denominator and that my child (and many others) are beyond the simplistic stuff that is taught. However, I figure if we continue to work with her on the things that challenge her at home she will enjoy the social experience of being with other kids her age. If we had the cash, however, we'd send her to private school as I do think the public school curriculum is a bit weak.

Thanks for bringing up NAEYC Snowy.

Funding is TERRIBLE around ECE (Early Care and Education.) Ohio's Governor stressed how important it was back in the days of his election, but sliced and diced during the budget process this year. (Silly politicians backing out on their promises.)

I just found out that my niece (who is 4) is required to know her numbers to 20 and the entire alphabet BEFORE entering Kindergarten. They test them. What the fuck are they teaching them in Kindergarten?

I think pre-k is bad. Socialize your kid some other way. Like through play dates.

And in general, IMO we force too much school and not enough learning on our children. This is coming from a one time teacher btw.

I'm a pre-school teacher and I can tell you it is important for your child no matter how advanced you think they are. I have parents tell me how much a golden their children are and when they leave all I see is a spoiled idiot brat. What they learn in pre-k isn't just the usual colors, number, ABC's, etc., it's social and emotional things, right and wrong, self expression, creativity and consequences. I'm amazed how many of these things people don't help their kids learn and then get pissy when I tell them their childs' negative behaviors because they know it's their behaviors as well.

I just had a a 5 (going on 6) year old kick me in the face today because he learned it at karate practice. I told him what he learns there isn't to use on someone unless they're trying to hurt him and all he did was smile and laugh. When I told his mom about it and suggested if it continues he should be taken out of karate as a punishment she told me "I'm not doing that to my son, I'm glad he learning something there." I told her what he's taking from it isn't the defense aspect that it's based on but how to hurt people like he sees in shows and video games.

So please if you're not going to teach your kids how to be good people alongside being intelligent then let us do it.

You must know that advocating an alternative indoctrination while experiencing no patience for your raw material is goofy. You may only "do it" to your own offspring.