Preschool Lessons

Things I’ve Learned as a Pre-school Teacher: Boys and Preschool

If anyone was ever to ask me if I thought preschool was a good idea for their little boy, my answer would have to be a solid maybe.  But, some might argue, you’re an early childhood educator.  Aren’t you supposed to value the benefits of early education?  And I do; just not for everyone.  You see, I’ve worked with a lot of children, and a good majority of them have been boys.  And the thing I’ve learned about little boys is that they are little boys.  On the whole, that means lots of energy, lots of movement, and lots of play.  Parents who are looking to put their little boys in preschool need to take a couple of elements into consideration.

1.        Is your child a Captain Kirk or a Mr. Spock? 

Little boys, just like all of us, come in a variety of flavors and personalities.  Some are sweet, some are shy, and some are sassy.  Is your child a follower or a leader?  Does he enjoy the company of other children, or does he march to the beat of his own rock band?  Knowing your child is essential to making the best match for him and the preschool you choose.

A boy who is more interested in running and moving than reading and drawing is not a good match for a program that focuses heavily on structured learning activities.  While some structured learning time is important, the child that needs movement and action is not best suited to this type of environment.  Not only will he not gain as much, but you will grow tired of the daily reports that little Johnny just could not sit still.  You would do best to look for a program that focuses on learning through play and child-centered learning.  Don’t think that just because playtime seems to make up a large portion of the day that the children aren’t learning.  A quality center knows how to make these seemingly chaotic scenes into golden learning opportunities

On the other hand, if your child loves having a routine, and gets disturbed when that routine is thrown off, then a more heavily structured learning environment is probably a fantastic fit for him.  He will thrive in a setting where the same activities happen every day at the same time.  A program that allows more freedom not only will not appeal to your child, but will be detrimental as he flounders in the apparent chaos and free-flowing environment of such a classroom.

2.       Pre-Law or Play-date?

Another element you must consider is just what you, as the parent, looking to gain from having your child in preschool.  Are you looking for a preschool that will have your child ready for Harvard or Yale, or is social interaction what you value most?  Do you want a school, or a childcare center?

I had a parent in one of my classes tell me her son loves to come to school because he doesn’t get to play with other boys at home.  While I was glad this particular child enjoyed coming to school, I wanted to point out to this mother that our school focused very strongly on academics.  At once some of the issues we were having with this student became a little clearer.  This was a mother who was focusing on her son’s social development and interactions, while we were attempting to keep him centered on his academic development. The result was a slight mis-fit between school and student.

Don’t get me wrong; most parents who put their children in preschool want then made ready to succeed in the classroom.  However, some parents find that more important than others.  I would suggest, before selecting a preschool, that parents take the time to make more than one visit to the school.  If possible, visit at different times during the day so you can see what kind of environment the school fosters.  Make sure you ask during the tour what kinds of activities and schedule the school encourages.  If possible, you should talk to some of the teachers, preferably one-on-one, about the classroom environment.  Overall, make sure you spend enough time in the school to ensure you get a feel for whether it is a program that matches what you want from a preschool.

Finding the right preschool program is not easy.  Not only do you have to balance location and cost, but you need to make sure you are making the right choice for your child, particularly if you’re the parent of a little boy.  Don’t take this the wrong way, because I love boys.  Most often, my favorite students are boys; I love that mischievous sparkly they get in their eyes when they are trying to get something over on you.  But a mismatched boy and preschool program makes everyone miserable.  As a parent, you want the very best for your child, and that means taking the time to ensure that he’s in the learning environment that is best for him, and it’s a relationship that cannot be forced.  However, if you take the time to figure out the best program for your child, then sit back and watch the magic happen.