re: 4year olds....

<blockquote><b>Quoting katxo:</b>" Yeah. He won't even be able to start kindergarten til 2014 because his birthday is in December. He will ... [snip!] ... is in December. He will definitely know all of that before he starts. I just want to make sure he's not too far behind..."</blockquote>




I

Quoting katxo:" I'm not either too much but I just dont want people to think I'm a smurffy mom because he lacks those ... [snip!] ... My brother is deaf so I have been working with him by signing and stuff. He knows way more in sign than he does in other areas"

DS is behind in some of his things, but he had a speech delay and he has a hard time learning so come January we're getting him evaluated and he'll be going to a school where they will work with him 1 on 1 to help him. Don't worry about what other people think, kids learn at different paces.

Quoting katxo:" I'm not either too much but I just dont want people to think I'm a smurffy mom because he lacks those ... [snip!] ... My brother is deaf so I have been working with him by signing and stuff. He knows way more in sign than he does in other areas"

Some kids excel and things that others don't. If he is 'behind' on what he can put down on paper... who cares? He has other knowledge somewhere else that another kid does not.

My daughter is great at problem solving, and has a ridiculous memory on things I didn't even know she knew about. liiiiike she told me that Whales sleep 'standing up'.............. I did some googling and sperm whales sleep vertically.. who knew?... lol

My 4 year old knows his abc and can count to about 30 if he's focused enough. He can tell time and do any addition problems as long as it doesn't add up to more than 10, same with subtraction. He can write all of his numbers. and some letters, but I think they're just shapes to him. I mean he recognizes the letters, but they aren't sounds or anything, so spelling is out. His name is very long so he can't write it out. He tries. He can't draw anything that looks like anything yet except smiley faces. Mostly he likes to scribble. I only speak english so a secondary language is out too.  

He also knows a bunch of random stuff about space. ... the phases of the moon, which planets are which and what order they go in. He can also tell time. I can't take credit for that one though. He pretty much just started doing it one day. If I say something is going to happen in 5 minutes, he knows what time it's going to be when it hits the 5 minute mark. Let me tell you how fun that was at first...  

I think it just depends on each kid and what they're interested in. This is mostly stuff he's asked me or his dad about. It's not something I sat down with him and went over because I was worried about prepping him for school. I'm not organized enough with 3 kids to sit down every day and go over this stuff in my 'free' time either.

Quoting Kimber-lily:" My 4 yearold doesn't do daycare or preschool. She knows her shapes, counts to 10 (english, french, spanish), ... [snip!] ... not concerned. ETA: She is awful at her alphabet.. she can go from A-G.. then she says L,M,N,O,P Now I know my BBCs. lol"

That's super adorable! I know he will mess up. He's a quick learner though.. All he wants to do is play outside..

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mom of Tristan/Rayah +1:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting katxo:</b>" Yeah. He won't even be able to start kindergarten ... [snip!] ... definitely know all of that before he starts. I just want to make sure he's not too far behind..."</blockquote> I"</blockquote>




Sorry on my phone!

I can't believe how much they need to know before they go to school. It is almost like the parents have to do the teachers job. I know we didn't need to know all that when we went to kindergarten.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Kimber-lily:</b>" My 4 yearold doesn't do daycare or preschool. She knows her shapes, counts to 10 (english, french, spanish), ... [snip!] ... not concerned. ETA: She is awful at her alphabet.. she can go from A-G.. then she says L,M,N,O,P Now I know my BBCs. lol"</blockquote>
Honestly knowing how to recite the abcs is no diff than singing twinkle twinkle. It has nothing to do with their literacy knowledge. Reconition and sounds are what they need to know.

Quoting Mom of Tristan/Rayah +1:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mom of Tristan/Rayah +1:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting ... [snip!] ... is almost like the parents have to do the teachers job. I know we didn't need to know all that when we went to kindergarten."

I feel that teaching starts at home and that it is not solely the teachers job. But to each their own, I suppose.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mom of Tristan/Rayah +1:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Mom of Tristan/Rayah +1:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting ... [snip!] ... is almost like the parents have to do the teachers job. I know we didn't need to know all that when we went to kindergarten."</blockquote>

I thought kindergarten where u are is like our preschool here. But I may be mistaken.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Super Mommy!:</b>" I feel that teaching starts at home and that it is not solely the teachers job. But to each their own, I suppose."</blockquote>

  I can teach all day but if the parents aren't doing anything at home it's a waste because they just don't excel or progress as fast as the children who have parents who work with them. In no way does the parent have to make it not fun. You can yeah your kid everything just through daily life and they don't know they're learning.

THank you everyone for your responses!!! I appreciate it a lot. I know what areas I need to work with my son in and I am grateful for your ideas; Special thanks to lolajessup.. I will definitely keep in mind what you wrote, I totally forgot you were a teacher!  

<blockquote><b>Quoting katxo:</b>" THank you everyone for your responses!!! I appreciate it a lot. I know what areas I need to work with ... [snip!] ... ideas; Special thanks to lolajessup.. I will definitely keep in mind what you wrote, I totally forgot you were a teacher!  "</blockquote>


No problem mama. Ask me anytime. I have tons of info in my brain since I live 24/7 thinking about education haha. My mind never stops!!! It's just easier to answer specific questions cause I could go on all day haha. So if there's an area u really need more activity ideas let me know.

Quoting lolajessup:" <blockquote><b>Quoting katxo:</b>" THank you everyone for your responses!!! I appreciate ... [snip!] ... specific questions cause I could go on all day haha. So if there's an area u really need more activity ideas let me know."

I'll take all the advice I can get, especially with activity ideas. lol. I work a lot. I usually have off during the mornings and I almost always work doubles on the weekends.. I just want to make sure he's where he needs to be as soon as he is able to start school. I know how important it is nowadays  

<blockquote><b>Quoting katxo:</b>" I'll take all the advice I can get, especially with activity ideas. lol. I work a lot. I usually have ... [snip!] ... just want to make sure he's where he needs to be as soon as he is able to start school. I know how important it is nowadays  "</blockquote>


Yup im a working mama and in school so I know mama!!! My dd just went to kindergarten this year and is doing great. It's really about incorporating it into your daily life. You don't need to sit at the table and hound him to do things a certain way. Just add it in to your life. If you make a shopping list have him make one too (in his scribble writing  ). Just pointing out normal stuff. We never use workbooks or anything. Dd has some that have come with diff things and they're all untouched. Or she does her own writing stuff in them haha. But yeah it can be done even for us busy mamas!!!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Super Mommy!:</b>" I feel that teaching starts at home and that it is not solely the teachers job. But to each their own, I suppose."</blockquote>




I know teaching starts at home. I teach my children when they are ready to learn it. I find boys are so different in there learning then girls are. My son could care less for me to read to him or learn anything. My daughter wants to know alot already at 18 months. She loves books! But what I thought I needed to teach my son wasn't enough for when he started kindergarten. He is 12 and I was a young single working mom. But I know different now and I will be teaching my daughter and my next one alot more before walking into kindergarten. Also my eldest didn't attend per school as he was in day care.