Are Preschools Too Academically Driven?

My daughter recently turned three years old. As I began to consider a preschool environment for her I came to the quick realization that preschools have changed dramatically since my teens were once this age. What was once a fun time for children to gather with other children, learn about the world around them, and learn to work in a group has now turned into lower level academic schools. One preschool stated that my three year old would learn how to properly hold scissors, write her first and last name, and do simply adding by the end of the year. The theory of sooner than better is rampant among some educators and parents alike. But is this the best for our young children?

Not according to three top Universities across the country; Tufts University Child Development department, University of North Florida Psychology Department, and Stanford University School of Education. Professors from all three Universities state that sooner is not better when considering academics for a child aged three or four years.

In an MSNBC Internet poll the question was asked, "What Type of School is Best?" The results were dramatic; 72% of those who answered stated that children should learn through play, 15% said that early academics are necessary to prepare children for Kindergarten, and 13% answered that they didn't believe children at this age needed preschool at all.

These answers coincide with my own personal poll of over twenty parents, albeit mostly mothers, who answered my questions of what they wanted to see in a preschool environment for their children. The majority stated that children should: learn through play, learn to work in a group, respect adult teachers, learn to follow directions, and learn about the world around them (animals, what is the sky, trees, flowers, holidays, shapes, etc). Only three parents answered that children should be academically challenged at this age level; one of which is an elementary school teacher-who freely admitted that the sole reason for doing so made the job of a Kindergarten teacher easier when a child is already exposed to academics.

The experts do not agree with those three parents and especially the elementary teacher. Most experts in the field will say that overly academic environments kill the child's natural love of learning and creativity.

A good example of this is to walk down a school hallway from the Kindergarten classrooms to the fourth grade classrooms. What you will find is that the Kindergarten classes are vibrant, alive with action, questions being asked, children are moving about, and possibly even laughter. Once the older grades are reached there is barely a sound to be heard. The students don't naturally ask questions any more. They work steadily at their desks, or tables, and there is an air of seriousness about the room. If asked, many students will say they like school mostly because they get to see their friends and for recess (which some schools are deleting rapidly).

Some parents believe their child can handle strong academics in preschool and that it is really what is best for their child. Of course the parents are going to make their own decisions, however psychologist say that doing so could actually cause the child to have academic anxiety, or become a behavior problem in later classrooms.

These students can become easily bored due to the child's mind being constantly stimulated, and they need more and more to keep their minds occupied; they can't sit idle. For example, the academics taught in a first grade classroom are already established and if a child already knows the information then they are easily bored. Some children will even avoid doing academics with frequent trips to the restroom, day dreaming, tapping their pencils on the desk, or doodling. As a Pre-K through sixth grade substitute teacher I have seen how students behave when the permanent teacher is not in the classroom. Most look for any reason to change up the environment.

Another consideration, according to the three Universities, is that by the third (3) grade most academically advanced children even out with their peers because of the change in curriculum. In the middle grades it becomes necessary for students to think independently and more critically on their own.

According to a Psychologist from the University of North Florida, and MSNBC article, play-based pre-schools are better overall for children. They found that children actually perform better academically than those who are unnaturally pushed to learn concepts they don't have the cognitive ability to grasp at these young ages.

Children in the academic preschools may be able to count to high numbers or recited the alphabet (consider how the alphabet is taught-through singing and play) nevertheless, this does not mean the child understands the concept of numbers or the alphabet, according to Stanford University School of Education Professor.

My son once asked his 2^nd grade teacher, "Why do we learnmath?" He liked the subject, but wanted to know why it was important. The teacher's response was far from adequate, she answered, "Because it's part of the school's curriculum, and we need to know it for future grades."

Now, even if I had no experience in the classroom I could've come up with a better answer than that. Needless to say, my son found that asking naturally curious questions are really not allowed. This is that natural love of learning that many experts say can be squashed out of children when they are forced to perform academically too early.

Of course the experts also agree that preschools can't be unplanned and unstructured either. It should be made clear though that a pre-school which is well balanced would teach early learning concepts as colors, numbers, letters, or shapes; however, more than this should not be the main goal. Teaching basic learning ideas as well as how to follow directions, working in a group, getting along with others, and respecting adults is the best learning environment for children aged three and four years.

It was no easy task to locate a balanced preschool for my daughter. Many administrators would gasp when I said I wasn't looking for anything academically propelling for her, but more of a play-school environment. After searching all over town, I was fortunate enough to find such a place. After talking with other parents at the establishment it was nice to learn that I wasn't alone in my search for a non-academically based preschool. I also have two teenagers who are living proof that play-schools are a wonderful balance between the two theories of academics and learning through play.