Culture Shock, Part Two- Preschool Blues

My 4-year-old Matias

In Finland, kids starts school when they are 7.  They usually don't know how to read then (some of my first graders knew a bit), but by the end of the year they are all reading and writing fluently.  If you follow the news, you also know that Finland places in the very top in educational test results.  The education system there is great.  Let kids be kids and start school slowly.  First graders only go to school about 4 hours a day.

Here it is WAY different, and so competitive.  Ugh.  Kids need to do this and this and this and this to get a head start for kindergarten.  They need to go to preschool or they will be 'so behind'.  They should be reading when they start kindergarten.  WHAT?  If people are pushing their kids so much here at such a young age, why is it that the Finnish kids are smarter?  It's probably partly the quantity over quality mentality again.  Or is it just because Finns eat so many blueberries?  I heard that blueberries make you smart.  I don't know, but I think the education system here needs a huge change.

I was a bit shocked at one of my first mom meetings, some moms were eagerly asking what preschool Matias was in.  I said that he just turned 4 and he's still at home with me.  They went on to advise that the registration for next fall is right now, and you have to be quick to get a good place.  They also said how important the preschool is in preparing the kids for kindergarten.  I told them that kids in Finland start school when they're 7, so that I hadn't really thought about it yet but that I would definitely look into it.  I did look into it and was quite shocked to see that for my 3 kids to be in preschool only 3 hours a day, 2 days a week it would cost nearly 1000 dollars.  If they would need 3 hours every day, then closer to 2000.  And all day every day, about 3000 dollars a month.  This is NUTS.

First of all, I am a teacher.  I have studied education and have taught for 10 years.  I am constantly reading books about development, discipline, toddler activities, etc.  I know a fair amount about what kids need at certain ages and what is good for their develop.  Secondly, I love to do arts and crafts with the kids.  I love to read to them.  I love to teach them how to mix colors, how to mold play-doh, how to draw circles, how to identify and write their names.  Thirdly, my kids have each other to socialize with and learn all about patience and sharing.  We go out and spend time in playgroups/hobbies with other kids almost every single day.  My kids are definitely not lacking in the socialization department.

So, do I NEED to put my kids in preschool?  Are my kids going to be behind?  I really don't think so.  Matias just turned 4 and he already knows how to count to 100, how to write his name, how to write numbers, and how to identify all of the different types of clouds in the sky.  If you need to learn more about cumulonimbus clouds or cirrus clouds, just ask our own little meteorologist!  Plus, the kids are happy.  I am happy.  We have only a little over a year before Matias starts kindergarten and from then on out I will never have this amount of time to spend with my kids.  They will be in school for the rest of their lives until they move out on their own.  That makes me sad!

If I notice that Matias is getting really bored and needs something extra, maybe we will consider it.  But at this point,  I am ready to just keep him at home with me and keep him young and innocent as long as I can.  There is plenty of time to grow up and learn new things in school, even at the ripe old age of 5 and a half.

It goes fast, people.  Slow down and enjoy!