PAGent–As always, you are a true gent. Thanks! The problem is that it showed that my guess on a perfect pitch test, and my reasoning, was off. Sigh. At least I can tell when a song is “off”, too!

Lauri–Thanks for the perspective. “Play is the work of children”–yes.

Kat–I think you’re correct, that there has to be a balance. Yes, there are children who definitely need the early intervention. But, for instance, having a pediatrician label a child newly home from China as “failure to thrive” because she’s at 5% on the US growth charts is problematic to me (especially since that same child is likely to be at 50% on Chinese growth charts). Your friend definitely had a reason to be doing what she did and getting help…which is a different scenario than the ones I am contemplating, where semi “experts” are telling the parents their preschool kid is behind when the criteria used are items that are part of a kindergarden curriculum. Yes, experts can see issues that parents gloss over (and, of course, vice versa), but these particular instances really got my goat.

Julie–Loved your post!

Sister Carrie–Interestingly enough, the first mom posted a followup where she specifically said the preschool was *not* a push-it-push-it type of preschool. Turns out that it was a teacher’s assistant who is getting an education degree, not the lead teacher. Maybe a case of “book learning” versus “real world experience”?

SpaceMom–As you know, I’m not the ubermom type (thus my blog name ). So the thought of preschool tutors just boggles me!

Jane–I like your description.

Mom-o-Lego-Kid–Welcome! So do you think the interventions helped? Or do you think, in the end, they weren’t necessary? I’m glad your son is happy & healthy, and really, *really* into Legos. Cute videos!

I’m happy to say he is a normal happy healthy 7 year old.
( In fact, you can see his cute lego videos at http://www.LegoAdventures.com ) I look at those creations he makes, and I think he is a super smart kid.

I just think kids have their own timing.

Yes, Luna’s preschool is teaching the kids the letters. They are also working on just having fun! What happened to just having fun???
Kids learn via play. Why do we make everything a race?

UGH. I could go on for hours.

Yes, Crazy H was recently told that her daughter might need some evaluation for speech. To be honest, I agree. But that is because she says “A-go” instead of Diego. And “Da-da-De” for Daddy. She really is having troubles…Sigh…

Lauri — I’m sure the schools did not use the word “behind.” But when someone suggests to a parent that a child needs extra work in some area, what the parent hears is “your child is behind.”

Obviously I agree.

The thing is, she’d been through it already with an older child. Her son ended up being diagnosed with learning and sensory disorders when he was almost 5, after nearly three very difficult years. The boy had major temper tantrums and was withdrawn socially because he couldn’t process his surroundings or communicate his feelings adequately. For a couple years, their concerns were dismissed. “he’s little. Tempter tantrums are normal. He’ll grow out of it. He’ll catch up.” Eventually they got the diagnosis they needed, and speech and occupational therapy has turned this boy in to a happy, successful 8 year old. But when their younger child showed signs of delayed speech at an early age, the parents jumped on early interventions. They didn’t want the child to go through the years of struggle their son did. Needless to say, they didn’t want to spill out the whole story to everyone who told them they were ridiculous for getting speech therapy for their 27 month old.

There is way to much pressure with preschool… the main focus of preschool should be to play & socialize and maybe some basic preschool readiness ( recognizing colors, shapes, numbers, knowing gender, age and the first letter of their name) ” Play is the work of children”… I would run away from any school putting that much pressure on a 4 year old.

A

see http://www.pianostreet.com/search/images_tn/rachmaninoffs/rachmaninoff_prel_op3no2.gif

I am so with you, OM. which I am sure is NO surprise.

I think all the pressure is insane. It’s right up there with peeds insisting that kids straight home are “delayed” and should be seeing specialists. I mean, it won’t do them any harm physically and developmentally, but it does *label* them.

When they hear their story, are these preschoolers going to think “I needed extra help in preschool” which is really not a great way to get kids to love school, love learning, and love themselves.

I can get competitive, but at the same time lazy. I don’t work on this stuff with my kid much, unless she is showing interest right then. So she, at 5, isn’t doing letter sounds. She is singing and couning in Mandarin. She is adorable. She is smart. She is (gasp!) happy. She isn’t reading. She is 5 for cripessakes.

I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s insane when I hear people say that EI tells them their just turned 2-year olds are delayed because they aren’t speaking 4-word sentences. Or their just home from China 18 months olds are speech delayed in English. Like that is a surprise in any way? Like that requires any more intervention than a parent playing with and talking ot the child? Holy crap, this stuff makes my blood boil. But I’ll stop, as my comment is longer than the post.