As children are expected to know more going into kindergarten,
the benefits of preschool might be well worth parents’ pangs of
separation
When Gilroy resident Doris Reynolds’ 3-year-old son steps into a classroom for the first time in early September, he probably won’t know exactly what to expect. Neither will he know his mother spent nearly eight months scouring the city for the right preschool.
Observing teachers, students and the preschools’ daily operations served as measuring sticks while Reynolds made her decision.
“I think every parent is looking for different things in a preschool,” Reynolds said. “You know your children, so you know your expectations. Obviously, not all of your expectations are going to be filled, but I think it helps to look at as much as you can, then evaluate your choices.”
If the idea of sending a child to preschool for the first time isn’t overwhelming enough, considering all of the options is. How many days per week should a child attend preschool? How many hours per day? How much time should be dedicated to social interaction versus academic learning? What’s the ideal ratio for students per teacher in a classroom?
Luckily, there’s no right or wrong answer to any of the above, said Ginger Lobeck, owner and director of Hollister’s Children’s House, a Montessori preschool and kindergarten that emphasizes childhood development. The decision is more about what parents feel is right, she said.
“There are so many different options available, but I think it depends on what the parent wants for their child,” she said. “Generally, the right preschool is the one in which you feel comfortable and your child feels comfortable.”
When shopping for a preschool, keep an open mind, Lobeck said. Consider several different program formats – three hours a day for five days a week or four hours a day for three days a week, for instance – and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Sit down and talk with the preschool’s teachers or director to get a sense of their objectives, personalities and teaching philosophies, Lobeck said, and always be sure to visit the classroom.
“Sometimes, although the philosophy is something preschools strive for, it doesn’t always happen on a day-to-day basis,” Lobeck said. “So ideally, go and visit.”
A visit also is a good way to experience firsthand the relationships teachers share with their students, said Donna Silva, owner of Little Thinkers Preschool, a fully accredited preschool and daycare Silva runs from her Gilroy home. The more hands-on a teacher is, the better, Silva said, and it helps if the same teacher stays with the same students for the duration of their time in preschool.
“I’ve found that children learn better the longer they stay with one teacher,” she said. “There’s less stress, and you can focus on the day-to-day and not be worrying about what might happen in the long term.”
The state requires one certified teacher for every 12 children in a classroom, and many preschools also are staffed with teacher assistants or parent volunteers. Although different children have different needs, at least some one-on-one time each day between teacher and student is beneficial, Silva said.
Securing a positive relationship between teachers and students also can help the students better absorb what they learn because they feel comfortable with their teachers, Silva said. And that’s a good thing, especially as standards for children to enter kindergarten are becoming more demanding, both Lobeck and Silva said.
Going into kindergarten, children are expected to have a basic grasp of the alphabet and phonetic sounds, as well as concepts involving numbers and colors. While in preschool, lessons usually are taught through creative, hands-on activities. Rhyming exercises are used to teach the sounds of different consonants and vowels, and children are given instructions to underscore listening to – and following – oral directions.
Along with academics, preschool children also learn the basics of social interaction, such as how to share and how to get along with others – lessons Reynolds wanted her youngest son to understand.
“Social skills are something every kid has to learn,” she said. “They have to learn to create a situation for themselves when it involves other people, just like in real life. They have to understand that there will be people you don’t get along with and how to deal with that, whether it involves removing yourself from the situation or learning to tolerate that person.”
Social interaction in preschool is practiced throughout the day, especially during play time, snacks or lunch, and time spent outdoors, which also relays the importance of physical activity to children, Lobeck said.
The cost of preschool varies widely from program to program. Lobeck’s preschool is $3,500 annually, and children go to school three hours a day for five days a week. Silva’s preschool is about $200 a month, and children go to school three days per week for 3 1/2 hours per day, including lunch.
After months of weighing the various costs, structures and pros and cons of preschools, Reynolds chose Silva’s Little Thinkers based on what her gut instincts told her.
“(Silva) came across to me as herself, which helped. You can go to some daycares and they act so perfect, you kind of wonder what’s really going on,” Reynolds said. “And the kids really like her. My son communicated with her really well.”
Although Reynolds is a bit nervous – and reluctant – to send her son to preschool for the first time, she’s confident he’ll do well. And though it might be tempting to spend another year with a child before sending that child to school, the benefits of preschool are worth the pangs of separation, Silva said.
“By the time a child is 3, they’re wanting more social interaction,” she said. “The different learning opportunities that preschool gives a child are invaluable. They could stay at home and be with mom, but you don’t want to miss out on those things.”
Kindergarten Content
The California Department of Education issues curriculum standards that children should learn while in kindergarten. The five subject areas included are English and language arts, mathematics, science, history and social science, and visual and performing arts. Here are some of the requirements for English and language arts and math.
English language arts
Identify the front cover, back cover and title page of a book.
Follow words from left to right and from top to bottom on the printed page.
Write consonant-vowel-consonant words.
Understand and follow one- and two-step oral directions.
Recite short poems, rhymes and songs.
Math
Compare two or more sets of objects (up to 10 objects in each group) and identify which set is equal to, more than or less than the other.
Count, recognize, represent, name and order a number of objects (up to 30).
Use concrete objects to determine the answers to addition and subtraction problems (for two numbers that are each less than 10).
Identify, sort and classify objects by attribute and identify objects that do not belong to a particular group (for example, all of these balloons are green, but those are red).
Identify and describe common geometric objects.
Source: The California Department of Education
What should i read to my preschooler?
One of the best ways to get your child ready for kindergarten is to read to them as often as possible, said Ginger Lobeck, owner and director of Children’s House, a preschool and kindergarten in Hollister.
“(Reading) improves listening skills and language skills, and it usually makes them more receptive to the lessons they’ll be exposed to in preschool,” she said.
Lobeck recommended aiming for daily reading sessions – before bed, for example – but whenever parents can fit it into their schedules is good.
Here are some books ideal for preschool- and kindergarten-aged children as recommended by Cinda Meister, owner of Morgan Hill’s BookSmart.
“Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by Nancy L. Carlson
“Kindergarten Rocks!” by Katie Davis
“The Kissing Hand,” by Audrey Penn
The Miss Bindergarten Series, written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashley Wolff
“Timothy Goes to School,” by Rosemary Wells
Hands-on activities are another good way to prepare a child for kindergarten. Here are a few ideas available at Thinker Toys, 17375 S. Monterey Road in downtown Morgan Hill.
Wooden alphabet blocks, $12.99
Hopscotch Playmat (features 10 footprints that make six different sounds), $29.99
Busy Box (large activity box features clicking clock and moving beads), $34.99
