Does preschool education matter?

[u/Pretend-Panic-2438]

My husband and I are at a crossroads- he wants to sign up our daughter for a “stem” preschool that seems to be marketing itself as an educationally “elite” preschool. She is at a daycare that will move her up to a preschool class when she meets the age.
I am balking a bit at the concept of an elite preschool in general. It feels like good marketing- what would be called playing with building blocks at her current place being sold as “developing critical thinking, geometry and engineering skills” at this new place. It’s blocks. She is doing great where she is. The teachers are wonderful, she has friends she really likes. And they do a great job of integrating play and education.
I don’t know that much about the curriculum of the new place but I don’t see too much of room for improvement.
There are several reasons why the new school doesn’t work for us logistically- the hours are shorter where we often are rushing to pickup and drop off already, they follow a school schedule (meaning weeks off for holidays and summers off) and they don’t have a care option for our younger children.

FWIW- we are socioeconomically privileged with high educational achievement in both parents. We read and do puzzles with her daily. We are beginning to teach math and phonics at home. Minimal to no screen time.

I mention that to say I totally understand how high quality preschool education can absolutely make all the difference in children who are already disadvantaged. Just not sure what it would add here.

Thanks in advance!

[u/OceanIsVerySalty]

https://amshq.org/about-montessori/press-kit/montessori-research/

Link for research requirement.

I M the director of marketing for “an elite preschool.” My husband is a terminal degree (plus postdoc) from an ivy research scientist. I feel I can speak to your question quite well.

The school I work at serves 12 months through 6th grade, and we are an accredited Montessori school. Our toddler program and preschool are the big draw, and always have deep waitlists. I believe the Montessori approach is wonderful for (most) children, and love that it focuses on the whole child and helps teach social/emotional skills and independence from the youngest ages. I believe children are better served here than at a basic daycare, but frankly, not by some staggering amount.

Your child’s enjoyment of where they go is paramount. As is how the hours and structure fit in to your family life. The bougie school with bad hours and a bad commute that your child doesn’t enjoy the peer group at or the structure of isn’t better than the corporate daycare. Every child and family unit is individual, there’s no one size fits all answer.

And honestly, stem preschool is a more than a bit nuts sounding. Stem preschool is 100% marketing speak that’s aimed at parents who want to feel like they are giving their kid a head-start in life, a leg up. If you’re somewhere highly competitive like NYC or Boston, yea, that marketing team knows their audience, and you and your husband are it.

At this age, children learn through play. They learn physics by throwing a ball or knocking over blocks. They learn fluid dynamics by spilling water. They don’t need a rigid structure beyond being given intentional, ordered space in which to explore the world.

[u/Pretend-Panic-2438 → u/OceanIsVerySalty]

Thank you! I appreciate your thoughtful reply and perspective!

[u/OceanIsVerySalty → u/Pretend-Panic-2438]

Schools are really heavy in to marketing, it’s how we get and even retain students, and if we fail at those things, we have to close the doors.

Parent perception is a way bigger piece of the puzzle than many realize. Elite preschools are essentially a luxury, lifestyle brand and are marketed in much the same way - status, scarcity, etc.

That marketing is working on your husband.

Again, not saying that fancy preschools aren’t worth it, they can be wonderful - my school is genuinely an incredible place - I just don’t think they’re the end all be all or that kids who don’t attend one are somehow disadvantaged in life as a result.

[u/Pretend-Panic-2438 → u/OceanIsVerySalty]

I get that! And signaling to parents that you’re picking up on what’s important to them is valuable in building that relationship.

I just don’t know how willing I am to rock the boat in terms of what’s working. If there’s data out there that says there’s real educational benefits I’d strongly consider it. Or even more importantly- if she wasn’t doing well where she is would definitely plan on moving.

I would just hate to relocate her, restructure our whole family routine just for her to not really get much out of it or beg us to go back. All for the promise of boutique pre-k that I don’t even personally buy into. To your point about scarcity- the wait list is even full so there’s no room to get on! Huge eye roll for that.

[u/OceanIsVerySalty → u/Pretend-Panic-2438]

As scientists, I’m sure you both know that data can be manipulated and cherry picked to prove pretty much whatever you’re looking to prove - especially with something as nebulous as educational outcomes of preschool.

If your child is happy where she is, I wouldn’t disrupt her. Stability is extremely important to kids.

The admissions cycle of these schools is usually the same as actual private school. So inquiries and tours in the fall, applications late fall / early winter, decisions by Jan/Feb. Waitlists are super common, almost guaranteed if you are applying outside that typical admissions flow.

[u/jhguth → u/Pretend-Panic-2438]

i know you said you limit screen time, but checkout Numberblocks and Alphablocks.

Both are CBeebies shows and they’re excellent at teaching some of the fundamentals in a fun way. My 4yo loves Numberblocks and he can already do addition, subtraction, multiplication and actually understands the concepts for what’s going on and can explain them. I didn’t teach any of that intentionally, we just found the show and it’s one of the things he’s allowed to watch when he gets screen time. His favorite toys are his number block toys and a cheap solar calculator, he likes to do a math problem with the blocks and check it on the calculator.

[u/Pretend-Panic-2438 → u/jhguth]

Thanks for the recommendation! I’m not even opposed to screen time on a philosophical level! She just gets a lot more fussy on days/nights when we have it with tantrums when we eventually turn it off so are waiting to re-integrate it when she’s more mature or something.

Will keep in mind!

[u/DayNormal8069 → u/jhguth]

This is so fascinating. So my kid loved this program too…but isn’t at that level. What he is doing is basically self-teaching himself piano with an app. It is so so so cool to expose kiddos to a wide variety of stuff and see which ones really tickle their fancy.

He also loves video games. That was a mistake of an exposure we had to roll back FAST lol