OT: A question about Preschool
DD3 started preschool last week 
She is attending a private school. Today I have a conference with her foreign language teacher. And that got me to thinking about her preschool curriculum.
Here's her curriculum. They have a number and letter of the week. They have a homework packet that is 4 pages, she has to work on counting, writing her name and writing the upper case and lower case letter of the week.
She is learning Mandarin. She has a Mandarin worksheet as well, with a Mandarin character and a picture of an apple. The instructions are in Mandarin and I can't read the instructions.
I showed a friend of mine DD3's homework folder and that's the same type of work her kindergartener is doing. If she's doing this kind of work now, what is she going to be doing in kindergarten? Algebra?
I asked another friend what her son is doing in preschool she said that he's learning body parts, colors, and numbers. And they don't have homework. To me that's how I envision preschool.
My question is DD3's preschool curriculum common? I think this is way too much for a 3 year old. What is your toddler's preschool like?
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Ok, Foxie, that is what I was
Ok, Foxie, that is what I was thinking. I think they are putting way too much pressure on these kids! DH found this school and insisted that she attend. She did have to take a "test" to get in. She's the only 3 y/o in her class. All the other kids are 4.
I don't know what to do. Should I find another school? If I do that do you think it will traumatize her to have to start all over?
THANK YOU! I want do want her
THANK YOU! I want do want her to be a kid. I needed to hear this. I will be discussing this with DH tonight.
This is what the foreign
This is what the foreign language teacher was telling me. She said that languages like Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, etc are very difficult to learn for English speakers because they are not based on Latin so it's best to introduce them early. I get that. But she's only 3!
What age did your niece start?
I started my son in a school
I started my son in a school that has a Mandarin immersion session(20 min) everyday when he was 2 1/2-3. It was great, there was no homework though. I only took him out because we moved. My kids did also have nightly homework in preschool starting at 3, so that part doesn't surprise me too much either.
Do what you are comfortable with!! If you think the school is too much and you want your kid to be a kid there is NOTHING wrong with that. She will still grow up and be a successful adult with out learning Mandarin at the age of 3.
This school goes to High
This school goes to High School. In this school the only languages offered are Mandarin, Arabic, and Japanese. DH is fluent in French (English is his second language) and his whole family speaks French so she will learn French by proxy I guess!
I don't know if it is too
I don't know if it is too much work, but I do agree that the second language thing is great. It is easier to learn additional languages before the age of 7, so if she is starting now it will be much easier for her to learn it than starting in elementary or middle school. Does she seem overwhelmed by the homework packets?
It's only been a little while
It's only been a little while so she seems to enjoy doing them. But I think it's a lot of work for a 3 year old. I just don't want her to get burned out on school.
I live in Mexico and work in
I live in Mexico and work in a bilingual school. Kids learn English and Spanish simultaneously and it is much easier for them. The earlier they start the easier it is for them to speak with fluency and without a noticeable accent. Also, it is easier for them to learn to read in English if they learn both alphabets at the same time. We don't really give homework at that level though, so I don't know that will go. The only problem I can foresee is that she may get distracted if she has to do too much in one sitting, but if you can split it up to 15 mins a day that should be ok.
I agree LadyFace. The world
I agree LadyFace. The world is getting smaller. DH has brothers that live all over the world for their jobs. DH is from another country as well. In order to be competitive we have to be able to speak other languages, and I have no problem with that. I just think the school is asking a lot of a 3 y/o.
No I don't speak it! LOL! She
No I don't speak it! LOL! She does have an aunt and uncle who live in China. They are not Chinese though, so I guess she can practice with them.
I would like to add, that we are a very multicultural family. DH has family all over the world. He has a brothers in China, Italy, France, Canada and Africa. So I have no problem with her learning any language. I hope that she will be able to visit her uncles someday!
It just seems to me that if
It just seems to me that if they start out learning so much hard stuff at that age that by the time they get half way through elementary they will be burned out. Does the school have play time too? Is it all work? I think it's ok to start teaching stuff early but that should be like 30% of the day and play the other 70%.
I think you have to gauge
I think you have to gauge your own kid. Does she seem stressed and overwhelmed? Does she dread school and homework? Does she seem uninterested or distracted when trying to get her to do the work?
If she's going to learn another language, the younger the better. My oldest sister hired private tutors to teach her children (triplets) Spanish, German, and Japanese when they were that age (she comes from a LOT of money). At 10 years old, they're fluent in all 3.
I don't think homework is a bad thing either. It may seem like a lot compared to other schools, but you're paying for a private education .. that used to be worth something, ya know? I would say as long as your kid is thriving, don't mess with the formula.
I honestly think we push kids
I honestly think we push kids too hard to achieve at a young age. When I was 3 I was still chasing bugs around the yard and fighting with my brother (no preschool). I went on to be 13th in a class of 550, attend a good college and get a good job. I travel around the U.S. and occasionally to other parts of the world. I didn't need an intensive preschool curriculum to do all this. I do think homework at that age is extreme. Let them be kids a while longer!
I guess all kids are
I guess all kids are different. My SD7 had homework in kindergarten and loved it. Even to this day she enjoys doing the work. SD5 just started kindergarten and she ASKS for worksheets to do when she doesn't get homework (she likes to do homework with SD7).
I understand kids need time to run around and play, but I don't think we're talking about hours of homework every night either. At preschool ages, my skids were coloring and drawing in educational workbooks regularly.
I think learning another
I think learning another language won't hurt. But homework for a 3 year old is ridiculous. Learning to write is too early for a 3 year old. Apparently It is of no use either. Children that learn to write and read when the are 7 years old catch up within 3 months. So what is the use to start early. I read once that they did a survey wich indicated that forcing children can even cause dyslectic.
I cant find the article in english, but this comes close:
http://educationnext.org/much-too-early/
Our daughter went to a waldorf school. The first 3 years, from the age of 4 till 7, they only played. And that's how children learn the most.
But it is true that children up to 7 can learn up to 3 languages fluently. But they will only learn it fluently if the teacher speaks it fluently I think.
In Holland the children learn french, german and english. And my daughter learns Latin and Greek too in her school.
Based on my experience I'm
Based on my experience I'm all for learning languages as early as posible - English is my mother tongue but I speak several others, and there's a huge difference in fluency between the ones I learnt as a young child and those that came later. If my BD ever has the chance to learn a new language like Mandarin, I would say go for it as early as posible.
That said, I loathe and detest homework, in my (admittedly not-so-humble) opinion the only homework kids should have should be reading! This is a pet peeve...