Not going to kindy/preschool?

Has anybody done this? We started DS at kindy when he was 3.5. He went for about 4 months, started off OK but we took him out just before Christmas. He just didn't seem to settle, had no sense of belonging, bedwetting most nights and not wanting to go. He never showed any enthusism for going and when I used to collect him I used to find him wandering aimlessly most of the time. As soon as he saw me he was always straight to get his bag and out of the door. So since Christmas he hasn't gone to kindy or preschool. We do go to Playcentre twice a week so he is getting social interaction that way.

I guess I am feeling like I should be trying again but not sure I want to. He is happy at home and I don't struggle to entertain him or keep him occupied. He doesn't want to go to kindy again but we are wodnering whether he ought to go, IYKWIM?

We aren't sure what we are going to do in terms of schooling yet but have considered home schooling. I just want to be sure that the decision we make regarding kindy is what is best for us, not what I think I should be doing.

Has anyone not done kindy and gone straight to school? I'd be interested to hear any experiences or opinions. Thanks in advance

No I haven't heard of that but that sounds great. I'll go and google that. Thanks

Just one thing to be aware of with HIPPY - it is "means tested" so I got turned down .... when they ask if your child has access to books, saying they have heaps would not be the answer they are looking for! lol

I guess your decision would partly depend on if you're going to home school or not. Personally I think it would be a huge transition for a child to go from being at home all day with you and just two mornings of playcentre to 5 days straight at school without you. I would suggest that you either see if your playcentre does sessions that you can drop off at so he is used to being away from you but in a place he is happy going to, or look at another centre/kindy in the area that may suit him better. If it was me I would just be worrying that he will find it hard to settle at school if he was finding kindy that hard to settle in (where the teachers have more time to help the littlies settle). If you're going to home school then I guess it really doesn't matter as he won't be away from you.

Of course thats just my feelings and you need to do what you think is right for your family!

If he wasn't happy at kindy did you ever consider any other places? My oldest goes to daycare because I didn't like the local kindy and with 20hrs free its not exactly expensive either. Lots of daycares have fab programs for preparing them for school.

I personally feel that some kind of ECE is important. They learn skills beyond social interaction like waiting your turn, mat time, being away from you etc

Thanks for your replies.

I read up about HIPPY and got the impression that it might be allocated on a needs basis rather than to anyone who asked.

I have thought about other places. There are other kindy's and a multitude of preschools around here so if he does go back it would definitely be to a different one. I've considered a preschool and possibly sending both boys together (youngest is just coming up 2). Youngest would probably just do a few hours a week, and eldest a few days I guess. I wondered if having his brother there would help him settle and enjoy himself.

Our PC doesn't have a session for the big kids as such but I am able to drop off and leave him. We are going to pick up an extra day a week which will be a drop off for him so will see how that goes.

Thanks for your input and I definitely take on board what everyone has said. I guess I feel that ECE is important or I wouldn't be questioning my choices/decisions.

Caro07 wrote: I guess I feel that ECE is important or I wouldn't be questioning my choices/decisions.

I agree that ECE is important, but then your child is already in ECE as you go to PC. I think alot of people forget that PC is ECE. But I think you need to go with your gut, whether that includes kindy is up to you

Playcentre is a registered ECE and has to follow MOE guidelines for ECE same as any other childcare centre. They don't get funding otherwise.
Playcentre ratio is either 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 depending on the level of training of the parents.

For the most part its you and your child and maybe one or two others.

There are a few reasons why pre-school is important for children of this age. The first is social interaction with other children. The second is their education - things like reading and writing and so on. The third is preparing them for school.

My mother has been a school teacher of 5yo's all her adult life (she's now 73yo) and she mentioned to me that you could tell what kids had not been to any form of pre-school. They struggled either socially, getting through a whole day of school, structure/routine or were behind in things like reading and writing.

I think pre-school is important for children after the age of 3yo and especially by 4yo. And perhaps more so for your child who had trouble settling??? How is he at playcentre? Does he enjoy it or does he mostly want to interact with you? How does he socialize with other children?

It may be the particular kindy you took him to. I have to say that if he was that unhappy and disengaged then they weren't doing a sufficient job to welcome him, settle him in and engage him and it may be that trying somewhere else would work.

It's always important to settle your child into a new environment and some children need more than others. It may be that upon finding a pre-school (if you choose to do that), you spend an hour with him the first time, then go home together, then by the third time perhaps stay half an hour, leave him for half an hour and then pick him up after that. Just short periods with you there, short periods without you there and gradually increase it. If you do choose a pre-school, talk over your concerns with teachers and come up with a plan together for helping him to settle and feel happy.

At the end of the day though, you'll know what's best for him and so long as social interaction and education is happening, how he experiences that is up to you. My only thought is that school should not be a struggle for him to adjust to when it comes to it.

Yes, it feels like it's just you and me posting on the forums lol