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Preschool: Why Are We Making It So Academic?
In recent years, parents have increasingly voiced concerns about the rising academic demands placed on preschoolers. As a parent myself, I can relate. My little one, Max, started kindergarten at just four years old due to a New York age cutoff. I quickly realized that this was a mistake, and after two months of hearing him come home saying he “hated school” and felt “sad,” I made the tough choice to enroll him in a private pre-K program, even though my wallet was not thrilled about it.
With kindergarten now stretching into six-hour days with just a measly 20-minute recess, it’s no wonder many preschools are ramping up their academic focus to prepare kids for this reality. In her insightful book, The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need from Grownups, early childhood educator Kate Thompson highlights how today’s youngest learners are often in environments that overlook their true needs.
“I’ve seen firsthand how capable and powerful young children can be,” Thompson shared in a recent interview. “But our expectations? They’re all out of whack. We demand too much from them in practical ways, yet we underestimate their cognitive abilities. Preschool environments are often loud, overly stimulating, and visually unappealing, with packed schedules that leave little time for what truly matters: play.”
Ah, play. The magical word that seems to be slipping through our fingers. Why is it so hard for us to grasp that uninterrupted play is essential for children’s development? Is there really a need for lesson plans in preschool? And if so, why?
Thompson argues that the current state of preschool is “adultifying” our kids. “We’re creating spaces—at home and in schools—through adult perspectives and desires,” she explains. “We expect preschoolers to fit into our routines, habits, sleep schedules, and even our electronic habits. But I believe there’s a way to embrace a more child-centered approach without driving parents to insanity.”
How do we achieve this? By viewing the world from a child’s perspective instead of an adult’s. “When we shift our lens to see childhood through a preschooler’s eyes, we discover surprises: the little one who struggles to get out the door can focus intently on a new baby sibling, and the child who resists cutting construction paper can create detailed sketches of sand grains under a microscope,” Thompson points out.
We’ve all noticed this, right? Kids can dive deeply into things they love but often stumble in other areas. I was flabbergasted when I received a call from Max’s teacher about his “lack of focus” in class. Was this the same child who could spend hours sounding out words and teaching himself to read long before he even set foot in school? The same kid who navigated advanced learning apps on his tablet like a pro?
Once he entered the classroom environment, everything changed.
Thompson emphasizes the need for teachers to genuinely engage with children. “They should listen to kids’ stories, share laughs, and interact at their eye level to truly understand what ignites their curiosity,” she insists. “Unfortunately, this kind of respectful observation is rare in early childhood education, where many kids are subjected to rigid, scripted instruction that doesn’t cater to their individual needs.”
And the consequences of this approach may be more detrimental than beneficial. Research suggests that children exposed to monotonous preschool routines—like the dreaded daily calendar tracking—risk losing interest in school altogether and may struggle academically in later years.
There’s been a buzz lately comparing our educational system to Finland’s, where kids consistently excel academically and play is prioritized. While Thompson cautions against direct comparisons due to cultural differences, she notes, “The Finnish education system respects the physical and conceptual space that childhood occupies. They even have spacious dryers for snow suits so kids can enjoy outdoor time every day. This reflects a genuine appreciation for early childhood as a distinct life stage, rather than merely a stepping stone to adulthood.”
Perhaps it’s time we shifted our focus from a “training ground” mentality back to the playground.
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In summary, let’s remember that our little ones need time to play and explore, rather than be inundated with academic pressures. After all, isn’t that what childhood is all about?