Written PERFECTLY by a Pre-School Teacher... Not me

written by a Pre-School Teacher – It says it all!
I was on a parenting bulletin board recently and read a post by a mother who was worried that her 4 1/2 year old did not know enough. “What should a 4 year old know?” she asked.
Most of the answers left me not only saddened but pretty soundly annoyed. One mom posted a laundry list of all of the things her son knew. Counting to 100, planets, how to write his first and last name, and on and on. Others chimed in with how much more their children already knew, some who were only three. A few posted URL’s to lists of what each age should know. The fewest yet said that each child develops at his own pace and not to worry.
It bothered me greatly to see these mothers responding to a worried mom by adding to her concern, with lists of all the things their children could do that hers couldn’t. We are such a competitive culture that even our pre-schoolers have become trophies and bragging rights. Childhood shouldn’t be a race.
So here, I offer my list of what a 4 year old should know.
She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time.
He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn’t feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up.
She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination. She should know that it is always okay to paint the sky orange and give cats 6 legs.
He should know his own interests and be encouraged to follow them. If he could care less about learning his numbers, his parents should realize he’ll learn them accidentally soon enough and let him immerse himself instead in rocket ships, drawing, dinosaurs or playing in the mud.
She should know that the world is magical and that so is she. She should know that she’s wonderful, brilliant, creative, compassionate and marvellous. She should know that it’s just as worthy to spend the day outside making daisy chains, mud pies and fairy houses as it is to practice phonics. Scratch that– way more worthy.
But more important, here’s what parents need to know.
That every child learns to walk, talk, read and do algebra at his own pace and that it will have no bearing on how well he walks, talks, reads or does algebra.
That the single biggest predictor of high academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but mom or dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books.
That being the smartest or most accomplished kid in class has never had any bearing on being the happiest. We are so caught up in trying to give our children “advantages” that we’re giving them lives as multi-tasked and stressful as ours. One of the biggest advantages we can give our children is a simple, carefree childhood.
That our children deserve to be surrounded by books, nature, art supplies and the freedom to explore them. Most of us could get rid of 90% of our children’s toys and they wouldn’t be missed, but some things are important– building toys like Lego and blocks, creative toys like all types of art materials (good stuff), musical instruments (real ones and multicultural ones), dress up clothes and books, books, books. (Incidentally, much of this can be picked up quite cheaply at thrift shops.) They need to have the freedom to explore with these things too– to play with scoops of dried beans in the high chair (supervised, of course), to knead bread and make messes, to use paint and play dough and glitter at the kitchen table while we make supper even though it gets everywhere, to have a spot in the yard where it’s absolutely fine to dig up all the grass and make a mud pit.
That our children need more of us. We have become so good at saying that we need to take care of ourselves that some of us have used it as an excuse to have the rest of the world take care of our kids. Yes, we all need undisturbed baths, time with friends, sanity breaks and an occasional life outside of parenthood. But we live in a time when parenting magazines recommend trying to commit to 10 minutes a day with each child and scheduling one Saturday a month as family day. That’s not okay! Our children don’t need Nintendo, computers, after school activities, ballet lessons, play groups and soccer practice nearly as much as they need US. They need fathers who sit and listen to their days, mothers who join in and make crafts with them, parents who take the time to read them stories and act like idiots with them. They need us to take walks with them and not mind the .1 MPH pace of a toddler on a spring night. They deserve to help us make supper even though it takes twice as long and makes it twice as much work. They deserve to know that they’re a priority for us and that we truly love to be with them.

Preparing for Kindergarten; Mom Recommends....

I'm seeing pamphlets & email's and all the hoopla about How to prepare your child for Kindergarten.  I revolt! A revision is in order and should read How to Prepare Parents & the Child for Kindergarten?

It must be culture shock to both parent and child that has never had any other formal Pre-Schooling prior to Kindergarten. In our case, Ryder went to Pre-K4, Pre-K3, 2y/o and MMO starting at 18 months old.... My misconception of Kindergarten has caused me to fail my child and his expectation of what Kindergarten should be. So these are my recommendations or suggestions on changes to help with Kindergarten Culture Shock; Parent and Child.

1. Kindergarten Practice Camp or Consider Starting Kindergarten 1st day of School several days earlier than other grades- Start Kindergarten a few days earlier, to give the new kids on the block a chance to learn where to go in the morning & afternoon and at lunch time. This will be less confusion and will help with any pressure that the K students might fee. The other grades know what to do from being there the year prior. Focus on teaching the K kids the rules. raising your hand before talking, standing in single file line, bathroom time and breaks, lunch room rules and meal time........

2. EARLY SUMMER Parent / Student Orientation:  Pre-pare parents for what is to come during the Kindergarten year, learning & curriculum & Units info, Reading SOAR (summertime reading),  this will help parents and children that have not had any other formal pre-school background be better prepared. Students are not so overwhelmed & shocked with the size of the school and are anxious through out the summer of starting Kindergarten, it gives them something to look forward to all summer long. There imaginations can settle a bit so they know a little bit about what to expect.  s.

3. Teacher Classroom Meet and Greet (not the night before 1st day of school.)-Paperwork is necessary for the first day of school for emergency situations, but the parents havfe enough going on the night before school starts on the first day of Kindergarten. Any paperwork that needs returning to school should be giving days before the first day. School Supplies Lists, etc. Then teachers can spend less time preparing for Orientation and more time preparing for lesson planning and first week activities. No one is rushed the night before school starts or late getting to bed and everyone is rested well. Parents are missing important stuff just trying to get the papers that have to be filled out back to school. Everything else is over looked and it's information overload.

4. Curriculum - (CCSS is new and different so prepare the parents.)  Information about Curriculum: Explain the K curriculum in more detail, maybe give them a list of words that will be new to them. Both Parent and Child. I call this my Foriengn Langage of Kindergarten Word List. Maybe they can have time to research this over the summer to get familiar.

5. Check Out Library Books about First Day of School or Starting a New School.

6. Practice New Routines

7. Don't Drag Out "Goodbye" the first few days of school. Just walk-away. This is hard for both child and parent. Both can experience separation anxiety during the Kindergarten transition.