When did daycares become "schools"?

"Donna Metler" wrote in message
.. .

: I think the change started to happen when kindergarten
became an academic
: program, and therefore the learning which happened in
kindergarten was
: pushed lower. At this point, it is expected that a child
will come into
: kindergarten with group experience, which still seems
wrong to me. A child
: with only the half-day, three day a week preschool I had
as a child would be
: seen as being "under-prepared".

I have pondered upon what factors might have precipitated
the push toward schooling at a younger and younger age, and
the above explanation sounds reasonable. There are children
in my town beginning a half-day Kindergarten program with
*three years* of full-day preschool under their belts! It
seems excessive and makes me wonder exactly what might be
new for them in Kindergarten.

When my clients/friends/family ask me about preschools, I
tell them to examine their reasons for making the change.
You would be surprised at the lack of concrete reasoning
behind the impending transition. Many parents don't have
any idea *why* they are putting their children into
preschool at 2.9, other than it has become the norm. This
is the part that I find disturbing, particularly if it is
not a positive or necessary move for the child. Many two
working parent families operate on a certain amount of
guilt, and I feel that this may drive some of the decisions
regarding their children's daily environment. This coupled
with the 'all children should start preschool at 2.9'
mindset............

I put my own two children into a 3 morning a week program
one year prior to Kindergarten because they had such a
difficult time separating from me. I was not necessarily
interested in the curriculum aspect, but felt that they
needed the socialization.
--
Ruth B -- Remove the blinders to send email

Stewie (reading the Bible): "My my, what a thumping good
read, lions eating Christians, people nailing each other to
two by fours. I'll say, you won't find that in Winnie the
Pooh."




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I found this attitude in some daycares and parents back when I was
shopping for care for my infant son, who is now 8. I personally found
it a turn-off.

I suspect that it's a reaction to all the bad press daycare gets,
e.g., "Dr. Laura" calling them "baby kennels." Daycares and parents
who use them feel they need to argue that daycare is somehow not only
acceptable but even beneficial to a child. I did have a friend tell me
that even if she didn't work, she'd put her 3 month old in daycare
anyway because "he needs the socialization." (Of course, 3 MOs do need
"socialization," but not institutional/daycare-style socialization.)

I wish parents could be educated about what children really do need at
the various stages of their development. Though science (including the
social sciences) cannot answer that definitively for all children at
all ages, it certainly can inform society's discussion more than it
currently seems to have. We need better and more easily available info
on what kind of stranger care is best for most kids at 3 months, 12
months, 2 years, etc. You hear that kids do just fine in daycare if
it's "high quality"--what does that mean specifically?

If parents think kids 1 to 3 need a school-type environment all day
long, then they clearly need more guidance when they go looking for
care. I know two different mothers who initially went shopping for
"educational" daycare for their infants who ended up very unhappy with
that model. One switched her child to an in-home care provider; the
other switched to a daycare that emphasized being touchy-feely-lovey
in their infant and toddler rooms. Luckily, these two were awake and
flexible enough to see their error and do what their babies needed.

"P. Tierney" wrote in message news:Dtsgb.510823$Oz4.369466@rwcrnsc54...
Is it just my area, or are more and more parents who send their 1-3
year olds to daycares refer to them as "schools"? If so, why? Are
the parents trying to make themselves feel better about where their
kids are, or are the daycares trying to pump themselves up in some way?

I don't get it. I've never heard a parent with a similar aged child
at home saying that she/he was "homeschooling" their kid, so I'm
wondering why daycares, or the parents who send them there, do
the same. Or, maybe they don't where you live. But in my mind,
"school" begins at preschool, which is around age four. LMK what
it's like to others. Thx.


P. Tierney

"P. Tierney" wrote in message news:Dtsgb.510823$Oz4.369466@rwcrnsc54...
Is it just my area, or are more and more parents who send their 1-3
year olds to daycares refer to them as "schools"? If so, why? Are
the parents trying to make themselves feel better about where their
kids are, or are the daycares trying to pump themselves up in some way?

I don't get it. I've never heard a parent with a similar aged child
at home saying that she/he was "homeschooling" their kid, so I'm
wondering why daycares, or the parents who send them there, do
the same. Or, maybe they don't where you live. But in my mind,
"school" begins at preschool, which is around age four. LMK what
it's like to others. Thx.

Hmm. I do this, sometimes, and I hadn't really thought about it.
I guess my son's day care seems like a school in many ways - they
have lesson plans for each child, although of course at his age
it's not some sort of rigorous academic program, but more a set
of fun activities that emphasize things he might be ready to
start doing. It's *very* much like a school for the older kids
in the center, and I think that's part of it; it would seem sort
of weird if the same building and program was 'day care' when
you're 1 and then turns magically to 'school' when you're 3-4.

I don't think I'd ever tell another adult that my child's in
'school', though, because they'd probably misunderstand and
think he was older than he is. It's more something I say to
my son, i.e. "Are you ready to go to school and see your
fun teachers now?" Actually, I suspect that I call it school
partially because the folks that take care of the kids are
referred to as 'teachers'; I don't know if there's a friendlier,
less governmental-sounding term than 'day care providers'
that doesn't imply 'school'.

Beth
Sam 8/16/2002

P. Tierney wrote:
Is it just my area, or are more and more parents who send their 1-3
year olds to daycares refer to them as "schools"? If so, why? Are
the parents trying to make themselves feel better about where their
kids are, or are the daycares trying to pump themselves up in some way?

In our area we have seen a few daycares and a few schools for our DS,
and there was a clear difference. The schools would require even the
youngest children to participate in group activities at certain times,
even if they were not really interested. They had a more defined program
in teaching even the smallest kids math, reading and writing.

The daycares we saw had a daily schedule, but children were free to
play by themselves if they wanted to. They also offered some educational
activities, but on a free basis and not starting before the age of 2.
That's the main reason why we opted for the daycare.

--
-- I
mommy to DS (14m)
guardian of DH
EDD 05-17-2004
War doesn't decide who's right - only who's left

P. Tierney wrote:
Is it just my area, or are more and more parents who send their
1-3 year olds to daycares refer to them as "schools"? ............... But
in my mind,
"school" begins at preschool, which is around age four. LMK what
it's like to others. Thx.

I was a little perplexed at that as well. I've used a family home daycare,
center based daycare, group family daycare, and now preschool. Even though
the center care was very structured and they did projects etc....I
considered it childcare. I *used* it as childcare but if I could I'd just
take Luke there now (we no longer use daycare) because he misses the action
but I'd still call it a playgroup I think.

Perhaps people use the word preschool when they send their kids for the
*kids* benifit and not because they are working? The only thing that
confuses me about that is that I personally don't think the kids need
preschool until they are 4 or very close to it. If they *want* it earlier
then that is fine but if they are crying and not wanting to go I don't see
the value in making them go at under 3.5-4 years old. I do think preschool
is fairly important in being ready for kindergarten but only the first year
before K, not their whole toddler lives, lol. I'm not saying I'm right,
some people think daycare/preschool at 2yo is necessary and I can live with
that ;-) Pre-school is just a seperate entitity in my mind I guess, like
kindergarten or first grade. To me calling a group thing for a 2yo
preschool would be as odd as calling my current preschool or even
kindergarten daycare...even if I was working while they were there!

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

On Tue, 07 Oct 2003 05:49:23 GMT, P. Tierney wrote:
Is it just my area, or are more and more parents who send their 1-3
year olds to daycares refer to them as "schools"? If so, why? Are
the parents trying to make themselves feel better about where their
kids are, or are the daycares trying to pump themselves up in some way?


We have a few friends who use daycare, and most usually refer
to them as "school", even when there's absolutely no structured
activities beyond snack and nap time. I know that in at least
one case, the parents do so because of their guilt at not being
home with their kids - the mother told me outright that it makes
her feel better. I can't speak for the others.

I don't get it. I've never heard a parent with a similar aged child
at home saying that she/he was "homeschooling" their kid, so I'm
wondering why daycares, or the parents who send them there, do
the same. Or, maybe they don't where you live. But in my mind,
"school" begins at preschool, which is around age four. LMK what
it's like to others. Thx.

One thing I've noticed around here is that nobody seems to use
the term "Nursery School" anymore. ;-) For me, the usual scheme of
things was Nursery School for the 2+ to 4 year old set, then
Preschool at 4+. But with the understanding that Nursery School
is almost strictly a socialization experience, with no academic
overtones. Preschool, on the other hand, would start work


As for home schooling - in practice, the people I know who
do it never actually say "homeschooling". It's always
something along the lines of "teaching my kids at home",
or some such.

In article , Nevermind says...

I found this attitude in some daycares and parents back when I was
shopping for care for my infant son, who is now 8. I personally found
it a turn-off.

I suspect that it's a reaction to all the bad press daycare gets,
e.g., "Dr. Laura" calling them "baby kennels." Daycares and parents
who use them feel they need to argue that daycare is somehow not only
acceptable but even beneficial to a child. I did have a friend tell me
that even if she didn't work, she'd put her 3 month old in daycare
anyway because "he needs the socialization." (Of course, 3 MOs do need
"socialization," but not institutional/daycare-style socialization.)

I wish parents could be educated about what children really do need at
the various stages of their development. Though science (including the
social sciences) cannot answer that definitively for all children at
all ages, it certainly can inform society's discussion more than it
currently seems to have. We need better and more easily available info
on what kind of stranger care is best for most kids at 3 months, 12
months, 2 years, etc. You hear that kids do just fine in daycare if
it's "high quality"--what does that mean specifically?

Stranger care is an intersting concept. How is it organized? Is there a number
of people lined up as a relay race, such that, as soon as the children and their
parents get acquainted with them, a new person comes in? Do the children go to
a new place every month, or do the new unaquainted people come in? Or does it
differ by stranger-care facility?

Please enlighten me.

Cheers,
Banty

"user" wrote:

: We have a few friends who use daycare, and most usually
refer
: to them as "school", even when there's absolutely no
structured
: activities beyond snack and nap time. I know that in at
least
: one case, the parents do so because of their guilt at not
being
: home with their kids - the mother told me outright that it
makes
: her feel better. I can't speak for the others.

I assume that you are referring to a daycare center? Is it
really possible to entertain a group of children with
absolutely no structure other than snack and naptime? Could
it be possible that the program has a child driven day, with
an underlying structure that is not curriculum based?
Possibly flexible enough that it isn't overtly noticeable?
It would seem to me that any group setting with children and
'absolutely no structured activities' would be an exercise
in chaos

I do agree that working parents make certain choices based
on guilt. I am not sure the use of the word school is one
of them My feeling is that this usage is based more on
parental peer pressure, and children seeing other young
children going to 'school' and wanting their experience to
feel special. It is also an easier and quicker term than
'family child care' or 'daycare center'.

: One thing I've noticed around here is that nobody seems
to use
: the term "Nursery School" anymore. ;-) For me, the usual
scheme of
: things was Nursery School for the 2+ to 4 year old set,
then
: Preschool at 4+. But with the understanding that Nursery
School
: is almost strictly a socialization experience, with no
academic
: overtones. Preschool, on the other hand, would start work

Nursery School seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur.
Everyone that I know refers to 'preschool', and the
experience starts at 2.9 hereabouts.
--
Ruth B -- Remove the blinders to send email

Stewie (reading the Bible): "My my, what a thumping good
read, lions eating Christians, people nailing each other to
two by fours. I'll say, you won't find that in Winnie the
Pooh."




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Chookie wrote in
:

In article Dtsgb.510823$Oz4.369466@rwcrnsc54,
"P. Tierney" wrote:

Is it just my area, or are more and more parents who send their 1-3
year olds to daycares refer to them as "schools"?

Are you in the US? I ask because it took years to wean our (American)
minister away from calling University "school". Presumably it's a word
that in American English is increasing in scope to cover any place where
you send your child for education and enrichment.

I find it even wierder when they refer to "McDonalds University" with
a straight face.

--
Penny Gaines
UK mum to three

"Banty" wrote:

, Nevermind says...
: sniiip We need better and more easily available info
: on what kind of stranger care is best for most kids at 3
months, 12
: months, 2 years, etc. You hear that kids do just fine in
daycare if
: it's "high quality"--what does that mean specifically?
:
: Stranger care is an intersting concept. How is it
organized? Is there a number
: of people lined up as a relay race, such that, as soon as
the children and their
: parents get acquainted with them, a new person comes in?
Do the children go to
: a new place every month, or do the new unaquainted people
come in? Or does it
: differ by stranger-care facility?

Stranger care; now there is a new and totally tasteless term
for child care
--
Ruth B -- Remove the blinders to send email

Stewie (reading the Bible): "My my, what a thumping good
read, lions eating Christians, people nailing each other to
two by fours. I'll say, you won't find that in Winnie the
Pooh."




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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.524 / Virus Database: 321 - Release Date:
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