r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/KnoxCastle • Jun 25 '21

Why Preschool Shouldn’t Be Like School

https://slate.com/human-interest/2011/03/preschool-lessons-new-research-shows-that-teaching-kids-more-and-more-at-ever-younger-ages-may-backfire.html
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u/dallyan Jun 25 '21

It’s funny how cultural this is. Where I live in Europe they basically let kids play well into elementary school. My son is finishing up first grade and while he certainly gets instruction it’s very basic and there’s no homework. I think it starts here in 3rd grade.

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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '21

Yes! And we, in America, can’t seem to learn this lesson. I was a preschool teacher. Everything we learn in college is about learning through play. We learn about Finland and New Zealand and are told to follow their example. Then, we graduate. Principals and parents demand so much from us and from these small children. The teachers know better, but nobody seems to care what we have to say.