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Considering Preschools

Parents today hear that it is important to get your child academically ready for school, making sure that direct instruction is used at their child's academic preschool.   But, if you are reading this article, your kid probably doesn't need preschool.  Slate.com calls it the The Early Education Racket.   But, many parents don't have a choice because of work, or parents need a break from their children.  So when you start considering preschools consider this: the research shows that kids in academic preschools do not have advantages over those in play based preschools, in fact, it shows the opposite.  Kids who went to play based preschools tend to like school more, are less stressed about school, are more creative, and perform better academically and socially.

The most important qualities is needed in a preschool is that 1) you feel comfortable with the space, staff and the program 2)the preschool is child centered, and 3) the program is play based.  Free PLAY is what kids should be doing at preschool.  Scientific America writes about this beginning on page 37 of this issue in this link.

The Death Of Preschool:  The trend in early education is to move from a play-based curriculum to a more school-like environment of directed learning.  But is earlier better?  And better at what?  (See page 37)

This is an interesting philosophy being practiced in Germany.  What ideas can you get from this?

Germany is Taking Away Kindergartens' Toys To Curb Future Addiction


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