5 Q's: A Parent's Perspective on Pre-K by J.M. Holland

This is the first of a series of posts titled: 5 Q's. These posts will feature perspectives on pre-k from those in and out of the pre-k education field. This first post is an interview with Kristen Moorehead, Internet Communications Manager for Pre-K Now. Her son Che just "graduated" from pre-k and will attend kindergarten in the Fall. I wanted to ask Kristen about her experience with pre-k because many parents will send their child to pre-k for the first time in the next several weeks. Here is what these parents may have to look forward to:

What was the most important experience or skill your child gained in pre-k?

Learning how to interact with different types of children, and adults.  And building his fine motor skills (oops- that's 3 huh?)

What was the hardest part of sending your child to pre-k?

 

Che was in daycare since he was about 6 months old.  All that to say, for me, it wasn't the separation anxiety.  But we moved from a loving childcare environment in Massachusetts to a totally new state and program in the DC metro area.  There's always this fear, with so many children to attend to: is your little person going to get the love and attention they need?  Che's cognitive skills were outstanding.  But he needed help building up the hand strength to hold a pencil.  Would they really take the time to help him with that? Or identify it as a problem since he uses crazy words like apoplectic? 

 

What did you learn from the experience of having your child in pre-k? 

 

LOL - I learned that there is more than one way to skin a cat.  My mom, an elementary school teacher (3rd grade - think multiplication tables) was a drill sergeant of sorts when it came to learning.  Che responds terribly to this type of educational boot camp as I imagine most kids his age do.  So this appreciation of learning through play and art (his true love)... watching him grasp these skills while loving how he was learning them... that was amazing.  And such a relief!  We both were so much less frustrated when fine motor skill exercises changed from writing his letters in a large lined notepad turned into hitting the pavement with our sidewalk chalk!

 

And one more ...  The importance of being your child's teacher's partner (or we could just say parent involvement).  The skills that they give you during those parent teacher conferences to tackle goals you both are working towards for your child are invaluable!   

Is there something that you never would have thought your child would learn in pre-k that he learned?
 

My son learned how to stick up for himself in pre-k.  That sounds funny, but before he would melt at the slightest insult (the irony being he was the tallest kid in the class and a bully magnet because of his gentle nature/sensitivity).  It was a process.  And just as we'd discuss ways to address educational milestones in the P/T conference, and how to stay on track in accomplishing those, we'd talk about social emotional skills and are action plan for those as well.

What benefits from pre-k do you see for your family and your immediate community?
 

From the perspective as a parent, and a former Head Start parent advocate, the benefits are innumerable.  But my favorite, I think, is how quality pre-k programs - and teachers - teach you how to be your child's advocate for life.  I didn't grow up around kids; I was an only child, and found myself pregnant my senior year of college.  While I was committed to being involved in my child's education, I had no idea what that would look like (take my drill sergeant technique passed down generationally!).  As much as Che learned, I learned more.  You pre-k teachers, equipping us parents with the skills/discipline we need to guide our children through grade 12 and beyond... that's priceless.

Kristen raised some great points about what parents learn from their child attending pre-k. What are some ideas or beliefs other parents or teachers have taken from preschool? Please share in the comment section, maybe even just one sentence.