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Parent Answers to "PROS AND CONS OF BEING IN A INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL? "
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I'm not sure what you mean by an integrated preschool. In my state, this would refer to a public pre-school that serves "typical" students along side those with special needs.
While neither of my children attended an integrated preschool (we did not get in - the waiting list was too long), I know many kids that did and loved it. Many times these schools are located in the same building as the elementary school - this helps kids make a smooth transition to kindergarten.
Because there might be kids with special needs - most often speech and language or motor skill difficululties, there could be a better teacher student ratio with well-qualified teachers.
Once kids leave preschool and attend elementary school, many of these same kids will be in their class. It's nice to have established friendships early on.
I don't see any down side - assuming the hours, location, price, size of the school meet your needs.
While neither of my children attended an integrated preschool (we did not get in - the waiting list was too long), I know many kids that did and loved it. Many times these schools are located in the same building as the elementary school - this helps kids make a smooth transition to kindergarten.
Because there might be kids with special needs - most often speech and language or motor skill difficululties, there could be a better teacher student ratio with well-qualified teachers.
Once kids leave preschool and attend elementary school, many of these same kids will be in their class. It's nice to have established friendships early on.
I don't see any down side - assuming the hours, location, price, size of the school meet your needs.
Hi. I'm not from CA, but your question is one without any single answer....it's a matter of personal preference.
If you want your child to grow up with friends of many different cultures/ethnicities/religious beliefs, and you don't live in that type of neighborhood, then exposing them to other children in a school setting can be helpful. On the other hand, I think most preschoolers don't pay attention to many differences in other children, and it's not until they're a bit older that they may develop prejudices. (I don't remember much of anything from my preschool days, but by kindergarten I can recall many more details.)
I think the biggest influence in a young child's life is their parents, and if the parents don't speak "negatively" about other people, but instead show respect and kindness to everyone, the kids learn not to focus on differences in skin color or anything else. (Speaking from personal experience, I attended a very "homogeneous" parochial grade school, but I also had friends of other religious and ethnic backgrounds...My parents promoted treating everyone as individuals, and once I moved out of my neighborhood, I further expanded my circle of friends to people of many different races, etc. I probably would have done it earlier, but I didn't live in an integrated neighborhood at the time.)
If you want your child to grow up with friends of many different cultures/ethnicities/religious beliefs, and you don't live in that type of neighborhood, then exposing them to other children in a school setting can be helpful. On the other hand, I think most preschoolers don't pay attention to many differences in other children, and it's not until they're a bit older that they may develop prejudices. (I don't remember much of anything from my preschool days, but by kindergarten I can recall many more details.)
I think the biggest influence in a young child's life is their parents, and if the parents don't speak "negatively" about other people, but instead show respect and kindness to everyone, the kids learn not to focus on differences in skin color or anything else. (Speaking from personal experience, I attended a very "homogeneous" parochial grade school, but I also had friends of other religious and ethnic backgrounds...My parents promoted treating everyone as individuals, and once I moved out of my neighborhood, I further expanded my circle of friends to people of many different races, etc. I probably would have done it earlier, but I didn't live in an integrated neighborhood at the time.)
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