Preschool/prek ?

I completely hear you and feel the same! It’s so normalised to rush humans into a routine/schedule. I understand toddlers needing to be socialised with kids in similar ages and learn and play. But also, they are still so dependent and impressionable at this age that I’m very selective with who and where my son spends time with. When they are 4/5 years old, different story then.

I will be homeschooling my child but if I didn't have that option I would definitely forego prek. I didn't have it but my brother did. I think it was because my brother had a seperation anxiety issue and my mom wanted to break him of that before school.

Yes it is best for them to stay with us as long as possible, my mil is always talking about my eldest (3) is going to school (she means nursery) but I’m literally home with her brother (2) and I’m pregnant again so will be staying home longer, it’s the normal thing to do but it has been studied that kids should stay with their primary caregiver which is normally mum at least until 3 as it has long term benefits for mental health and attachment style
I do want to home educate my kids which is why I don’t see the point of sending them to nursery, we go to lots of playgroups and I teach them preschool kind of stuff, try not to let what other ppl say bother you or think too much if you want to spend as much time with her now before she starts school x

I’m a SAHM and both of my kids started preschool at around 3.5 years old. They both loved it. It wasn’t daycare, they were truly learning 😊

My son won’t be going to school until 5. We do soccer twice a week (teach sportsmanship), portuguese class twice a week, playdates at least once a week (lately is almost 3 times a week and its busyyy) and once a week we attend a homeschooling community that makes tons of activities and lessons. Learning through play is the most important at this age in my opinion!

Mine is turning 3 in November and just started preschool in September, but it's only 3 days a week, initially it was because we were expecting another and we thought the extra childcare would help with a newborn in the house. I miscarried in April but she's still going to "school", and I have to say she loves it. It isn't like daycare, at least not like the "eyes on kids" sort of daycares we have around here. Pre-K teachers are qualified in Early Childhood Education whereas day care workers don't have to be.

I don't think it's necessary - I'm not concerned with her learning ABCs and numbers or how to write, etc, at this age. They do activities, they create art, they paint, learn about the seasons, holidays, and how to interact with each other. I think it has value for us personally. My daughter is loving school, and we never have separation anxiety issues. She's practicing a lot of skills and learning by leaps and bounds since we started.

Sahm/wfhm with 2 littles home. We just started our 3.5yr old in an outdoor forest school 2 days a week for socialization. Planning on homeschooling and continuing the forest school days until he ages out at 10yrs. He loves to be outside and this gives him 3hrs completely outside with other kids and I get time to work. Win win for us

It’s insane to me. People who have actual pre-schools near them are lucky, because most are just daycare. We’re homeschooling for that same reason. We want more time together as a family.

Oh dominant society wants parents separated from their kids so early. They even encourage it in babyhood with sleep training. Its been the norm so anyone who is opposing your wishes to keep your kids close isnt going to get it. You are not crazy. You are the future of childcare.