here's one person's opinion.karlafoisy wrote:I have been doing preschool with my three kids (four-year-old triplets) since September. I've been trying to make it very fun for them. Simple color by number. Games. Songs. Finger plays. Crafts.
And my daughter hates all of it. She will sometimes humor me and try to participate, but she does everything half-heartedly. She constantly asks her brothers (who love school) if they want to be done so they can go play house. Today, we were playing Hi-Ho-Cherry-o, in order to learn numbers and counting, (that's fun, isn't it?!), and she slumped on the floor, and said, "I HATE school. I don't want to do this stuff!"
My question: My preschool methods are pretty lax. I try to help them to learn through games and play. What happens next year when we actually start school? I hate thinking that she will despise school. I want the kids to enjoy it. You can't force learning anyway; but what are my alternatives?
Sounds like she is just not ready for any kind of school. Let her sit back and watch for a while, invite her to join you. But don't make it mandatory at 4 years old. and if she isn't legally required to start school at age 5, it's ok to wait extra time. It might work in your house to stagger the start times of your kids.
If she is calling playing games "school time" then you need to stop "school" with her and just call it a game, and be willing to help her play a game. Don't quiz her on information pieces like "name this letter" or "name this symbol". she's not ready even if her brothers are. she needs more help. She might feel dumb already. (((((Hugs))))) to her Not all children that age are ready for all of those symbols.
Go to your library and look for preschool activity books that tell parents/teachers how to do large motor games and stuff like that
Sing songs to her like Bible songs
Read books to her.
Let her lace things with strings and play with playdough (good for strength in little hands)
Help her with everything that she needs help on.
also, just tell her the stuff that you want her to be learning, or let one of her siblings get to answer it first and let her answer second or third. That's ok. she needs the help. no big deal.
Instead of asking a question along the lines of "what letter/color/share is this?" Just make sure she can point to or bring you the shape that you ask her to bring. In other words, whisper to her "bring me the number 7." or "Let's all stand on a circle for the next song" and if she needs to have it in multiple choice form, that's ok (hold out a 9 and a 7 and let her make the selection). That way you are more focused on having her follow instructions and doing what you ask, instead of focusing on whether or not she has learned the names of everything. It really makes a big difference in later years with our kids when we work in fun ways to get them to follow instructions even if they don't know the factual knowledge just yet.
"preschool" time doesn't need to be more than 15-30 minutes a day.
Sing a song
read a book
do something fun from the Preschool Box (like the stuff MFW sells)
then cook and clean together!! math time can be while cooking and setting the table and folding laundry --- but without the quiz of abstract things.
It is about readiness, not about already knowing the stuff before you start school. The game you mentioned, it for ages 3-6, right? Not all 3 year olds will like it. and some kids will really like it at age 6. Tell her that she doesn't have to play at all. But that she has to sit with everyone and let them finish so that everyone can go play house. (she probably learns some numbers by setting the table while playing house.)
Set your kitchen timer while playing a game so she can watch the timer to learn numbers and know that the game will end. Encourage her to cheer for the other players. That way she is involved, and watching and learning through watching and knows that it will be time to play house soon. but she doesn't have to play that game with them. side note. I hate playing games that are hard when I'm with my husband's family. they are highly competitive. maybe your little girl feels like me in those situations.
In a group setting preschool, children don't always do the same activity at the same time. maybe she'd prefer to play the board game with you or just with dad.
well, I'm in my 40's and teaching Kindy to my youngest. so, I have a different perspective.. I hope my words sound friendly on your side of the screen. hang in there...... there will be lots of growing in the next calendar year.
(((hugs)))
-crystal