When I was single, before I had children, I was one of those overachiever types, always have been. When I had kids, I assumed they would be geniuses or else not MY kids. They would be reading before they were 3 and speaking French coming out of the womb.

Then I had kids. . . Now I have a different attitude. I realized I was putting all this pressure on myself from the time I was in elementary school FOR NO REASON. (My parents never did - it was all ME!)

So, I have the philosophy now, right or wrong, that kindergarten should be about FUN. Learning is a big part of it, but if it isn't FUN, kids won't like school later. I want my kids to excel, I expect the best, but I also want them to be, well, kids.

Now my rant. . .

I have a friend whose little boy started kindergarten this week (we start next week). She chose to send him to a private school. Great, wonderful, I don't have a problem with that. Well, she is going on and on about what they are learning, blah, blah, blah and it is TOO HARD! The teacher is already reprimanding him for not staying in the lines when he is coloring! She sends home notes (10 lines long in a notebook) to 20 kids a day! I have no idea when they do this. They do not have recess. AND, the first day they requested a conference with the parents because of his penmanship! It just sounds so negative, negative, negative! She wants me to be impressed, but I am FAR from impressed!

I told her today he is 5! Give him a break! He has been in school 4 days and already it is stressful for him. She thinks it is wonderful. Our school expects a lot, but this is ridiculous!!!! Or is it just me?

I know they expect more of kindergarten than when we were kids. I don't have a problem with that, but when you cram it down their throats? I don't get it!

I feel sorry for the child, your right that is too much pressure and I hope the mom sees the light!

I'm totally with you on this one. And I was that mom at first too. I've learned that all this is going to do is stress me out And make my poor kids hate school. I now tell my boys to do the very best work they can do and that is good enough. I want them to try thier best, but I also want them to know that everyone is good at different things and no one is perfect at everything. It's our differences that make us special.

When I went to kindergarten it was playtime with a graham cracker snack. Kindergarten isn't kindergarten anymore, it's first grade and we are now responsible for paying for kindergarden, it's just called preschool now. Someone pulled a fast one on us and the kids. And since this is the case, preschool should be paid for, just like regular school is. (sorry, small rant there).

I feel sorry for your friends child. Kindergarteners should not have to feel stress, my goodness, they are 5 years old. They should be learning that school is a fun place, a place where you color, make friends and learn. It's a shame that this poor child's first impression of school is not going to be a very good one. I hope it doesn't affect his outlook on it forever.

That's terrible!!! Penmanship in the first few days of kindergarden????? I don't think so! I was worried about my 2nd grade son's hanwriting last year and the teacher told me to relax. She was just happy he was doing his writing assignments (he was reluctant at first). Neatness will come later. This child will have an ulcer in elementary school!

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IMO it sounds like a "not so great" teacher and not so much a 'private school' thing...kwim? It's too bad that there is so much pressure on this little boy from an early age, I hope it doesn't sour him to school/learning!

I have to say that I agree that kids are getting bogged down too soon with skills that should be reserved for older children. I was stunned last year when Carson was in kindergarten and writing in a journal everyday, reading, and doing arithemetic.

The problem is that all that our kids need to know now is way more than when I was in school (I will be 40 in a month). There is no way to teach everything that is necessary, so they have backed some of it up to earlier ages in order to have more time in later grades for more material. We have health, more history/civics, adolescent living skills, and technology that has to be incorporated. Then you add the emphasis on reading and math that has been put on the schools by the government, well...it has to get taught earlier and earlier.

I think that it is a shame that my children have so much educational responsibility at such a young age, but then again, 2 generations ago, kids my children's ages would be pulling their weight around the family farm and in the fields. It seems that we've traded one huge responsibility for another. That is why I think summer is a blessing to children. There really is so much expected of them during the school year, that they need time to unwind, relax, enjoy, and just be kids.

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Jeanette, what an insightful post! We need an applause icon.

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count me in. My MIL is constantly going on about how my dh was reading at age 4. Good for him, except now he dislikes reading. He was on the high inteligence end, big woop. I never pushed any of my kids. My oldest was mad b/c she couldn't read at age 2. of course she had no interest in learning the alphabet until I told her you needed to learn the alphabet first. she pushed her own way with me reluctantly helping her. I didn't want her to focus soooo much on one thing, go outside and play already.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

I think our school does good on that!! I know they do math and reading and all that.
the only thing they said the kids need to know before they get to Kindy is how to read there own name!! and write it!! (and not even last name)
they do teach all that stuff at school but there is only so much in 2 1/2 hours they can get to!! the way they teach to is all hands on!! I love it!! and fridays are station days!! parents come help! and they have stations one is writing letters! (just one) and another is games to help learn math! and another is a snack! and another is a fun art prodjct!!
it seems to work really well and the kids are learning but do not even realise it cause they are having fun!! anyhow I soo agree when can kids be kids!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

I know someone who has her 5 yr. old DD speaking Chinese already!! CHINESE!! And this started at birth. I'm all for kids learning a second, or even third language, but I thought that was a little too much at an early age.

And I agree with Jeanette's post 100%....There seems to be more and more expected of our kids each year. I mean, I don't have ALOT of experiance where this is concerned, but I know that when I put my boys (now 18 and 20) in Kindergarten I was shocked that they would be working on computers! (And I graduated HS without even ONE computer class!!) Now, my DD will be sent home with both Writing and Poetry folders for "homework" every Friday!! Poetry? In Kindergarten? I don't know...Maybe I just have alot to learn.

And Claire...I agree with you. That's excessive. And you're right...He's 5!! But I guess that's what the parents are paying for, and she seems to think they're getting their money's worth, but if I were 5 I think I'd be stressed out about being in trouble over my penmanship too!!

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