Comments on: The Purpose Of Preschool http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/ THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON MAKING FAMILY LIFE SIMPLE AND FUN Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:36:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: lou http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-541 lou Fri, 02 May 2008 07:38:38 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-541 Thanks for your blog it is such a fresh approach to Mothers issues, my husband even admitted to reading it when he couldn't get to sleep the other night! Our eldest who is now at school, often says to his little brother 'you are so lucky to be at kinder still, you can just play all day and you don't have to do any work'. Which I think is a lovely reflection of his years at kinder, because there was so much exploration and so many fun activities that he didn't even realise he was learning. He would go back in a flash, not because he dislikes school but because it was such a fantastic year of learning through play. Most kids learn very quickly to follow the rules when they get to school, I don't think kinder needs to be structured like school.In my opinion a good kinder gives them freedom to explore and develop social, emotional and personal skills not just that they will need to continue developing for the rest of their lives. Thanks for your blog it is such a fresh approach to Mothers issues, my husband even admitted to reading it when he couldn’t get to sleep the other night!

Our eldest who is now at school, often says to his little brother ‘you are so lucky to be at kinder still, you can just play all day and you don’t have to do any work’. Which I think is a lovely reflection of his years at kinder, because there was so much exploration and so many fun activities that he didn’t even realise he was learning. He would go back in a flash, not because he dislikes school but because it was such a fantastic year of learning through play.

Most kids learn very quickly to follow the rules when they get to school, I don’t think kinder needs to be structured like school.In my opinion a good kinder gives them freedom to explore and develop social, emotional and personal skills not just that they will need to continue developing for the rest of their lives.

]]> By: Babyamore (Trish) http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-534 Babyamore (Trish) Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:42:06 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-534 I loved my son's preschool 10 years ago - it had couches like home and teachers would be seen sitting with bundles of kids reading, lots of dressup and pretend play areas and great focus on out door play too. I am unsure what I will do with my twin boys ... they are only young once and they have their whole lives for formal learning.Kids grow up too quickly now and enter formal learning environments early. While some parents say their kids like it - the kids don't know any different.I think letting them free play to learn with basic structure or routines is a fun approach. Even activites like cooking with mum to learn counting and measuring instead of rote learning 1 to 10. <em>Babyamore (Trish)'s last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/QHnl/~3/278827929/weekly-winners_27.html' rel="nofollow">Weekly Winners</a></em> I loved my son’s preschool 10 years ago - it had couches like home and teachers would be seen sitting with bundles of kids reading, lots of dressup and pretend play areas and great focus on out door play too.
I am unsure what I will do with my twin boys … they are only young once and they have their whole lives for formal learning.Kids grow up too quickly now and enter formal learning environments early. While some parents say their kids like it - the kids don’t know any different.I think letting them free play to learn with basic structure or routines is a fun approach.
Even activites like cooking with mum to learn counting and measuring instead of rote learning 1 to 10.

Babyamore (Trish)’s last blog post..Weekly Winners

]]> By: PlanningQueen http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-536 PlanningQueen Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:52:17 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-536 Annie - I think that the terminology used to name preschools can often cause confusion. When seeking out preschool options for my eldest son, I came across a number of centres that referred to themselves as ELCs that very much had a learning through play philosophy. Others were using the Reggio Emilia approach which is very child directed in its learning. There are others however that have the title ELC in there somewhere and a really long day child care (a large dominant Australian company would be a good example of that). Then there are those who I (and others)have spoken of who have a very structured pseduo curriculm focus. Choosing a preschoool for a child is very subjective and there are always so many factors to take into account, and I completely agree that the child must be the key focus in the decision making on this issue. Annie - I think that the terminology used to name preschools can often cause confusion. When seeking out preschool options for my eldest son, I came across a number of centres that referred to themselves as ELCs that very much had a learning through play philosophy. Others were using the Reggio Emilia approach which is very child directed in its learning.

There are others however that have the title ELC in there somewhere and a really long day child care (a large dominant Australian company would be a good example of that). Then there are those who I (and others)have spoken of who have a very structured pseduo curriculm focus.

Choosing a preschoool for a child is very subjective and there are always so many factors to take into account, and I completely agree that the child must be the key focus in the decision making on this issue.

]]> By: Annie http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-540 Annie Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:03:06 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-540 Hi all. I'd just like to say don't discount ELCs (in Aust. Wherever Guera is the places she rejected sound rather full on) completely as it all depends on how the learning is incorporated. I would have been happy for any kinder that made my kids feel secure and let them play. Almost by default we ended up with an ELC and both kids loved the exposure to letters and in no way that I am aware of felt pressured to learn them. They are now both at a play based primary school where they are also thriving - no homework until Grade six...brilliant. I think we need to be careful not to refine too much on ELC or not.. I'm sure we all agree it is about the child and the warm nurturing environment. Hi all. I’d just like to say don’t discount ELCs (in Aust. Wherever Guera is the places she rejected sound rather full on) completely as it all depends on how the learning is incorporated. I would have been happy for any kinder that made my kids feel secure and let them play. Almost by default we ended up with an ELC and both kids loved the exposure to letters and in no way that I am aware of felt pressured to learn them. They are now both at a play based primary school where they are also thriving - no homework until Grade six…brilliant. I think we need to be careful not to refine too much on ELC or not.. I’m sure we all agree it is about the child and the warm nurturing environment.

]]> By: More On The Purpose of Preschool : Planning with Kids http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-539 More On The Purpose of Preschool : Planning with Kids Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:25:27 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-539 [...] Saturday I posted about thoughts of mine and some leading educators on the purpose of preschool. One of things I love so much about blogging, is the sharing of information and ideas. There are [...] [...] Saturday I posted about thoughts of mine and some leading educators on the purpose of preschool. One of things I love so much about blogging, is the sharing of information and ideas. There are [...]

]]> By: Linda http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-538 Linda Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:06:26 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-538 At the end of the year they start recognising their name and writing it, and I think that is enough. I do agree that the lining up is helpful though. The early intervention system is very big on play and how it helps kids learn. Developing a good general knowledge is good as it gives them things to talk and write about. Thanks for visiting my blog. www.homesteadblogger.com/ourlittlehouseintown Thankfully my preschool days seem to be over. I have done one part-time kinder, four full times, and two three year old kinders. There was no 3 year old last time so we participated in a dancing class for a half year with kids that went into her class. At the end of the year they start recognising their name and writing it, and I think that is enough. I do agree that the lining up is helpful though.

The early intervention system is very big on play and how it helps kids learn.

Developing a good general knowledge is good as it gives them things to talk and write about.

Thanks for visiting my blog.
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/ourlittlehouseintown
Thankfully my preschool days seem to be over. I have done one part-time kinder, four full times, and two three year old kinders. There was no 3 year old last time so we participated in a dancing class for a half year with kids that went into her class.

]]> By: Journeyer http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-537 Journeyer Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:04:51 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-537 Our kinder organised an information evening with Kathy Walker last year and it was fantastic. As Kazoo has experienced, our teachers spend a lot of time explaining play based learning to parents. I sometimes think that with schools expected to teach so much to kids that may have been the responsibility of parents in the past, kinders may be expected to pick up some of the traditional school areas, which would be a terrible mistake. As for being disorganised, I think it is important that the kinder can be flexible enough to incorporate an opportunity or experience for the kids when it arises - a beetle in the garden for example - rather than stick strictly to the planned day. <em>Journeyer's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JourneyersChronicals/~3/277202989/simple-living.html' rel="nofollow">Simple living</a></em> Our kinder organised an information evening with Kathy Walker last year and it was fantastic.

As Kazoo has experienced, our teachers spend a lot of time explaining play based learning to parents. I sometimes think that with schools expected to teach so much to kids that may have been the responsibility of parents in the past, kinders may be expected to pick up some of the traditional school areas, which would be a terrible mistake.

As for being disorganised, I think it is important that the kinder can be flexible enough to incorporate an opportunity or experience for the kids when it arises - a beetle in the garden for example - rather than stick strictly to the planned day.

Journeyer’s last blog post..Simple living

]]> By: kate http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-535 kate Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:19:09 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-535 oh wow I could write pages on thus but I have a cranky baby on my lap so I will try to keep this short.... I think it all depends on how you view children and learning. Is a child a vessel that we need to cram full of knowledge as much as possible as soon as we can? Or is a child a person who has interests of their own? Is learning about regurgitating knowledge or developing understanding? Do you respect a child to learn at their own pace or feel the need to make them learn what an adult thinks they should know when an adult thinks they should know it? Once, right back when I began teaching kinder a very wise teacher once told me... "why do we have to prepare these people for school? If we knew there was going to be a famine next year, would we starve ourselves now in order to be 'ready'?" There is plenty of time for school... kinder/preschool is not like school and shouldn't ever be... if only school was a little more like kinder then perhaps I would feel better about it all. <em>kate's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/picklebums/~3/277957704/' rel="nofollow">Mincepuffs!</a></em> oh wow I could write pages on thus but I have a cranky baby on my lap so I will try to keep this short….
I think it all depends on how you view children and learning. Is a child a vessel that we need to cram full of knowledge as much as possible as soon as we can? Or is a child a person who has interests of their own? Is learning about regurgitating knowledge or developing understanding? Do you respect a child to learn at their own pace or feel the need to make them learn what an adult thinks they should know when an adult thinks they should know it?
Once, right back when I began teaching kinder a very wise teacher once told me…
“why do we have to prepare these people for school? If we knew there was going to be a famine next year, would we starve ourselves now in order to be ‘ready’?”
There is plenty of time for school… kinder/preschool is not like school and shouldn’t ever be… if only school was a little more like kinder then perhaps I would feel better about it all.

kate’s last blog post..Mincepuffs!

]]> By: h&b http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-533 h&b Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:06:26 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-533 Oh, i'm totally with you. My pre-school is great, they really *do* 'learn through play' and seem to take an active interest in each and every child. The feedback I have had has been invaluble. And there is a whole looming lifetime of math and deadlines and difficulties and decisions ahead. Which can wait ... <em>h&b's last blog post..<a href='http://house-n-baby.blogspot.com/2008/04/pooped.html' rel="nofollow">Pooped</a></em> Oh, i’m totally with you.

My pre-school is great, they really *do* ‘learn through play’ and seem to take an active interest in each and every child. The feedback I have had has been invaluble.

And there is a whole looming lifetime of math and deadlines and difficulties and decisions ahead.

Which can wait …

h&b’s last blog post..Pooped

]]> By: kazoo http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-532 kazoo Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:17:45 +0000 http://planningwithkids.com/2008/04/25/the-purpose-of-preschool/#comment-532 As a kindergarten teacher i can safely say that half of my job involves convincing the children's parent of the benefits of a 'play based' program and that preparation for schooling is not about letters and numbers. To see the way a young child develops throughout the year and the journey they take towards becoming autonmous, bright happy children with a positive self concept and self esteem, who are ready to test their curiosity in a confident manner and who have learnt so much throughout the year without even realising it and loving every minute of it...thats what kindergarten is about!! As a kindergarten teacher i can safely say that half of my job involves convincing the children’s parent of the benefits of a ‘play based’ program and that preparation for schooling is not about letters and numbers. To see the way a young child develops throughout the year and the journey they take towards becoming autonmous, bright happy children with a positive self concept and self esteem, who are ready to test their curiosity in a confident manner and who have learnt so much throughout the year without even realising it and loving every minute of it…thats what kindergarten is about!!

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