As a parent of 4 children, one finishing prep and another grade 2 and a 3 year old and 16 month old, and a speech pathologist, I have many opportunities to observe children and families in different environments. I wonder if school was as "full on" now compared to when we were children. The prep year from memory had the teacher playing guitar and singing. Now they are into literacy on day 1. Does this lose some of the boys, in particular, that just aren't ready to read? Wasn't prep called just that as it was to prepare them for school? Parents also seem to think that they need a computer program or something with flashing lights to help their child when in fact playing, reading books and time talking would seem the best medicine to me. Turn off the TV and leave the extra-curricular activities to age 6/7.
As a parent of 4 children,
As a parent of 4 children, one finishing prep and another grade 2 and a 3 year old and 16 month old, and a speech pathologist, I have many opportunities to observe children and families in different environments. I wonder if school was as "full on" now compared to when we were children. The prep year from memory had the teacher playing guitar and singing. Now they are into literacy on day 1. Does this lose some of the boys, in particular, that just aren't ready to read? Wasn't prep called just that as it was to prepare them for school? Parents also seem to think that they need a computer program or something with flashing lights to help their child when in fact playing, reading books and time talking would seem the best medicine to me. Turn off the TV and leave the extra-curricular activities to age 6/7.