Did you go to kindergarten when you were a kid?

Estonia
January 18, 2010 3:34pm CST
I think I was 3 years old when I first went to kindergarten. It was nice and friendly here. I made quickly lot of new friends and in general I was happy with staying here. The only thing I didn't like was daydream. I just couldn't fall asleep, so I spent time lying in bed and counting sheep or silently talking with other insomniac children. Kindergarten was good for my education, as I was able to improve my writing and reading skills there. It was also good for my parents, because they were both working so nobody would be able to look after me I wasn't in kindergarten. So, have you ever gone to kindergarten? How was it? What did you like at most and what did you hate? Share your thoughts!
1 person likes this
17 responses
@Cheiyen (317)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
hello. thanks for starting this discussion because it makes me recall my good memories in kindergarten. i studied with my friends in the neighborhood. we studied and played together. i remembered our bowling game and i made a strike and i was so happy. i was delighted when we had the stage play SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. it had been awesome if i became a part of the casts but my teachers didn't know that by then i already had a knack in acting because i was just a shy girl. hahaha! there was no sweat preparing for primary school so i was admitted in grade 1 even i was way under age. i still remember my classmates and teachers especially whenever i see my old photos on stage holding a present as my mom pinned 2 awards of mine: well-behaved on the 1st year and first honors in kindergarten graduation. hahaha! maybe that's the reason why i've decided to make the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stage play last Christmas. LOL!
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
Oh yeah, I remember these plays too. I was a little bit shy, when acting in front of the large crowd. I remember the two plays we performed. Both were written by our teachers. I was acting a Wolf in one of these plays, I can't remember the other part I performed. I also had quite good preparation for school, I knew how to read, write and count. I received part of education at home and another at kindergarten too, as I had home language other than was spoken in the kindergarten. So I've learned to translate from one language to other quite early and had no problems with learning at school too. Thanks for your response!:)
• Estonia
20 Jan 10
I remember I had kind of a wolf mask too. It was more like a hat, it was like I had killed the wolf and made a hat from it I had some kind of tail too, and yea, I was an evil wolf! I am glad to hear that your plays are doing well, keep it that way!:)
@Cheiyen (317)
• Philippines
20 Jan 10
the pleasure in mine. hahahaha! did you play as the big bad wolf in little red riding hood? wow! i like that role. my thai student can portray that role perfectly so we won twice and heading to the nationals. ironically, he's the best looking without the mask. have a nice day!
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
29 Jan 10
I went to a church-sponsored Pre-K program for a couple of years, then I started kindergarten in a public school when I was about six. The funny thing was that I graduated high school with a lot of the same people I was in the pre-K class with so many years before. I can't really say that I learned a whole lot in kindergarten, but I do remember that we colored a lot, and that we had these little stickers that represented different types of weather patterns, and each day we would all have to look out the windows of the classroom and agree on what type of day it was, then we would put the appropriate sticker on the calendar. I could already read and write for the most part before I got to kindergarten, so it was probably a lot easier for me than it was for some of the other people in the class...
• United States
10 Feb 10
That was a very good time in my life for sure. Thanks for bringing back all those memories...
• Estonia
29 Jan 10
We have also done the same activities in kindergarten. We've painted, colored, learned to read and write. We had special workbooks, there were different exercises, including that stickers task. We usually did that last one in the end of the course, so I couldn't wait to stick these stickers! Anyway, just like you I already knew how to write and read when I was in kindergarten, so I think I had kind of advantage. Many of my current classmates were also in the same group with me, so I was pretty familiar with all the kids, when I entered the first class. Thanks for responding!:)
@danoluma (817)
• Kenya
19 Jan 10
I was never in kindergarten myself but I know it is the right place for a child My son will definitely join one
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
Yeah, it's a good place for your child to improve social skills and learn the basic skills needed for school: reading, writing, counting. It's also good if parents are working and no-one can look after the kid. Thanks for your thoughts!:)
• China
22 Jan 10
Yep,biomechanoid,I went to kindergarten when I was 4 or 5 years old,my parents were occupied by their job.So I was sent to a kindergarten near my home.I could remember I was super super super naughty at that time,I always didn't obey teachers' instructions.They had no idea about me,so they always visited my home and tell my parents ur little daughter was really a wild horse.My parents treated teacher kindly,when the teacher left,then they didn't scold me.Bcz in my parents' eyes it is normal,being naughty are kids' nature.So I have a wild and happy kindergarten life.All the best.Cheers:)
• Estonia
22 Jan 10
Thanks for responding, longsdogin! I think that every kid has been naughty in some times, so there is nothing unusual with it. Kids just want and have to some fun, because when they grow older, time for having is getting cut shorter and shorter, and soon you'll be wanting to go back to the kindergarten.
@raisur (423)
• Bangladesh
20 Jan 10
hi biomechanoid... no, i didn't go to the kindergarten... i went to school directly in standard one... so sorry, i can't share my experience as i don't have any... but, i have the experience of sending my kids to the kindergarten... my elder one went to kindergarten when he was only three (like you)... the younger one went at four... both of them used to enjoy going to school even at that age... they never complained about waking up early in the morning...
• Estonia
20 Jan 10
You know what? I never had trouble with waking up early too. Maybe it's perhaps there was no stress and hard work at the kindergarten? Because now I am going to graduate from school and I hate waking up in the morning knowing that I will have to sit for 8 hours at school and kill my brain cells with hard exercises. Thanks for sharing!:)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
I went to kindergarten when i was 4years old and i don't talk much. Whenever my mom will left me i always cry because i thought that she will not come back and get me. :)
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I remember some kids from our group too, they turned silent and sad when their moms left them at the kindergarten. It just took a little bit more time for them to get used to the situation. Thanks for answering!:)
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
19 Jan 10
I didn't go to an ordinary kindergarden, I went to a private place that was owned by our neighbour's friend. Our neighbour had 2 children about my age, and they both went to this private place. Our neighbour told my mother about the place, and mother decided to send me there instead of an ordinary kindergarden. I was a great place. It was much smaller than a normal kindergarden, and that was nice, because I got to know all the other children, and we had a lot of fun. The owner of the place had made a grocery store with lots of different boxes. When she bought food she always kept the empty boxes, so that we could play with them. That was my favourite game I loved to sell and buy "food" in the little shop that she had created.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
Oh, that other place was surely different from an ordinary kindergarten. I think that one plus of this place (in addition to getting familiar with all the children here)was perhaps that you got more attention from the assistant. I think that these places may offer quite good alternative option, if the parents don't want to put their kid into kindergarten. Thanks for answering!:)
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
19 Jan 10
When I was 4 I started at library school, I guess it was called that because it was at the public library. I then attended kindergarten when I was 5. Both of my children started school when they were 2. They went to a church preschool. They only went for 3 hours a day. My oldest son, in 5th grade now, his best friend was from his 2 year old class. I felt that it was well worth it for them, they were able to start learning things and made new friends.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
Wow, since sending kids to school with two years of age is quite early. But they can start learning new things early. It may even give them advantage against other children. I used to go to a "Sunday school". It was kind of a school by the church, we learned about bible there and did some handicraft and just had fun, so it was quite fun and educating at the same time too.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I was five years old when I started Kindergarten and back then it was only half a day long. It wasn't nearly as focused on academics as it is today, but it was a great experience none the less. My favorite thing about it was the fact that I got to interact with people that were my own age everyday, which was a first for me. The thing that I didn't like about Kindergarten was that our teacher was kind of mean, but she did prepare me well for the rest of my educational life.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
Communicating with other kids was one of the main reasons why did I like the kindergarten too. I made lots of new friends here and we still communicate with them, because many of them go in the same school I do. Sad to hear that your teacher was mean, but at least she was able to get you proper education in young age. Our teacher succeeded in educating us too, but she was very friendly with us. Thanks for answering!:)
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
19 Jan 10
Kindergarten was my first school experience. I don't think I would be the same today without it. Kindergarten was a special time in my life. it is where i learned to make friends and see what the world of education promised. Kindergarten was a joy for me. It was not without its bumpy times, but i think I am enriched for it.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I think that kindergarten has positive effect on anyone, and I wasn't the exception too. You get educated and also get some new friends there too. Thanks for sharing!:)
@artistry (4152)
• United States
19 Jan 10
...Hi Biomechanoid, You were very, very young to start kindergarten. Also you remember what happened at three years old. My birthday was in October, we started school in September, but they let me come to kindergarten at four, just before I turned five. My mother took me to school the first day, talked to the teacher, and left me there. My two cousins were in the combined classroom with me. I cried when my mom left me. This was my first time being away from her. I got used to being there after a while and started to have fun. My one cousin who was in first grade went to second grade, my other cousin around my age went to first grade. The teacher skipped me to second grade with my older cousin. I never failed a grade and graduated high school at sixteen. Whatever I did in kindegarten must have impressed my teacher. I never knew. "o). Take care.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I wasn't like fresh 3 years old when I went there, more like getting four I think. And I also remember my first day, when I cried when mom left me there. There were all the strange people around me too, so I was quite afraid on the first day. But after couple of days, I got used to the situation too, just like you. It's good to hear that you managed to pass the kindergarten and school well:) Thanks for responding, have a great day!:)
@DenverLC (1143)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
Nope. I proceeded directly to grade 1 at the age of 6. Based on stories from my parents, I was enrolled at a prep school but my teacher told them I am an advance learner than the other kids. I just caused trouble to my fellow kids and always get board from my classes, so after a few days, my parents stoped sending me at school anymore.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
You must have missed such a great time of your life. Or again, it could be your worst experience ever, because there are some people who didn't like to go to kindergarten. Thanks for answering!:)
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
18 Jan 10
I went to kindergarten from I was 3 til 7 when I started school. Now children start school when they're 6. I liked it, I still remember coming there the first time and imediatly seeking out the assistant that reminded me of one of my aunts. I also liked that me and my brother weren't in the same group, as we quarreled all the time and it was good to get some time apart.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I was in kindergarten just like from 3 to 7 years. First day I came here, I was sad that mom left me there, but couple days later I actually started to like it. It seems that you had a nice chance to have some rest of your brother, so the tensions between you lowered during the daytime. When I was leaving the kindergarten, these assistants became as good as a real aunts for me:D Thanks for responding!:)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I went to Kindergarten when I was a kid. I absolutely loved it. I remember I used to love showing off my new shoes to all my friends and the teacher. We all had such a fun time in Kindergarten. Kindergarten for me wasn't really school. It was more of a place to hang out with kids my age.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I liked it too, and just like you, I had a story with my shoes. I had just received a new pair of shoes, the ones with flashing lights under them. Every time I made a step, a little red light flashed under my foot. So we used to look for some darker place with my friends and then we were just stamping the floor there, just to see that red light in the darkness. Kindergarten wasn't like a real school for me too. I just played with other kids there and sometimes we did some educating exercises there that taught us how to draw or write. These were fun too anyway. Thanks for sharing you memories!;)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I went to kindergarten when I was little. I was four when I started, and very shy! I would hardly talk to my teacher but got along fine because I did my work okay and didn't cause any trouble. I remember liking it, though.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I think, that most of the little children (but not all) are shy. In my case, I was shy too for the first days in kindergarten, but we had the friendliest teachers there, so it was easy to get into good relations with them. Thanks for answering!;)
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@zuokula (43)
• Lithuania
18 Jan 10
Hello there, Well yes, I did go to a kindergarden, when I was about four, until the age of six. I remember that I completely hated it at the time because it had discipline, which was never seen before (as I was so young). If they tell you to sleep - you sleep, if they tell you to eat - you do it aswell etc. Once the teacher told me to eat some soup, but I didn't wanted to. They asked me to at least try it, so I tried and then accidently vomited. Lol. It was a real nightmare then, but now It's really funny to remember those things. When I was 7, I started going to school and thats when I began dreaming about going back to kindergarden.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I've been in kindergarten until the age of 7. In general I had no problems with discipline, but I remember that some kids had. In general, I didn't hate the kindergarten, because I was having fun there. That vomiting story...I remember couple of such from my childhood too, but these were the other kids in kindergarten who vomited. There was kind of soup, which I hated too. There were little pieces of pork in it, I hated them. Once I almost threw up, so after that, I started to pile these pieces on the edge of the plate. When I was done with soup, I wiped those pork pieces back to the plate and put a dessert plate on them, so teachers didn't notice them I know what you mean, when talking about missing the kindergarten. When I went to school, it was interesting there for a few first years. Now I am going to graduate soon, and I feel, that kindergarten was like heaven for me. I didn't have to make any homeworks there and that daydream...It's the best thing now! I am so tired when coming back from school. Ah, these times will never return again... Thanks for sharing!:)
@ErickJ (186)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I went to kindergarden when i was a kid, i had a great time. In high school i meat some old friends that were in kindergarden with me. the things i can remember about it was that we went to a pumpkin patch and i was so little tha i could barely hold it, and another field trip we went to the petting zoo which was fun.
• Estonia
19 Jan 10
I had a great time in kindergarten too. And just like you, I had a chance to take part of many trips, I got to visit many interesting places. There was like a tradition, when all the parents had to make a field trip to the place they work at. We've been to train yards and bakeries and factories...oh, we've seen so much and it was interesting too.