Mummascribbles – The pre-school learning debacle – Mummascribbles

The other day I posted a photo on my personal Facebook page of Zach’s new pre-school folder with the caption ‘and so it begins’. It was clear in this photo (as you can see below) that Zach now has a workbook and that he also brings a book home each week that we read together, ask questions and report back. At nursery, they do the exact same. We both have the same book to fill in with what we have done with him so we can see how is getting on at home and at nursery.

Now I have known that this is coming because I have seen all of the pre-school children’s folders in the room. I always thought that pre-school would take him to that next level, where it wasn’t just about playing but also about learning. That he would get one to one time with his keyworker and work on things that need attention.  It’s just what I expected to happen.

However  – I seem to be the only one.

The response that I got from that photo was one of shock.  A range of comments from people that thought it was ridiculous to be sending a three year old home with work to do, even though it’s really minimal work.

I was therefore a little shocked because I a) genuinely thought that’s just what happens and b) I don’t have any issues with it at all.

I read this post by John over at Dad Blog UK a couple of days ago about how there has been a massive shift in homework since his daughter has moved into year 2 at six years of age and I do completely agree with everything he says. I worry about that stage myself, especially if the pair of us are still working full time and how we’d fit in Zach’s learning at home when at the moment we struggle to even have half an hour together.  I think that the amount of homework John’s daughter is having to fit in is a bit unreasonable and definitely challenging as a family. And yet I don’t see any problem with my three year old being sent home with a workbook in which he is required to practice writing his name and drawing a mix of lines, some straight and some wavy.

It’s a very simple dot to dot. The green dot is the start, the red dot is the end and he has to join them up. It’s very simple and he enjoys it. And whilst he enjoys it, he is also learning the very basic tool of holding a pencil correctly and learning how to control it. Something that up until now, hasn’t been one of his strong points. So much so that we have a huge amount of resources at home that helps promote this too.  Lots of write on wipe off dot to dot style books and cards.

And then there’s the reading. We are always promoting reading at home and we even have a whole set of these Biff books for him. And he’s not actually reading – he is being asked questions in which he locates things and matches the phrases and words to the pictures.

During those moments of one to one learning whether it be us or nursery, he is also starting to understand the fine art of listening, concentrating and taking instruction. Again something he is not very good at. Sitting down and trying to get him to do something can be challenging. He doesn’t like being told what to do and it worries me that he’ll be like this through his school years. So for me, the reassurance that he is doing this early on and that’s he’s becoming capable of paying attention and acting on instruction is all positive in my book.

95% of the time at nursery he is playing, doing circle time or getting fresh air out in the garden. So for 5% of the time, I truly do not mind that he is getting a bit of education.  The kind of education that is necessary to know at the age of starting school.  Yes he may be two years away from this but anything that prepares him for it is fine by me.

I’d love to know that if your pre-schoolers get this kind of one on one time at nursery and if they get sent home with small tasks to do? And I’d love to know if you agree with me or think this is far too young to be starting such things.  It seems to be different everywhere so please do share you thoughts with me.