Did You Go to a Kindergarten When You were a Child ?

Kindergarten - Kindergarten is first step in a long line of formal learning.
Play, Learn and Grow together!
@myl0t1 (346)
Indonesia
March 13, 2010 9:31pm CST
Hi Mylotters, People said that Kindergarten is first step in a long line of formal learning. Every years Parents struggle to decide if their children ready to take the first formal learning. So they must consider age, soft skill, motor skill and academic skill from their child. In preview, I want to know about your life when you were a child, Did you go to Kindergarten? Did you know the reason your parent send you to Kindergarten? and maybe you remember what the advantages when you were in Kindergarten. Thank and Regards. MyL0t1
5 people like this
35 responses
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
I went to kindergarten not once, but three times! Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't flunk school, it was just that my kindergarten teacher thought that I was too young to start the first grade. I am the youngest in a brood of four and my mother thought that the solution in having someone look over me while she worked was to put me to school at age three. Now, this was in the 70's and I don't know if there were special schools already at that time, but I know that I hated kindergarten because my teacher always singled me out. Because I was younger than my classmates, she would give me different things to do than my classmates. I remember coloring squares and triangles, but my classmates were already starting to write. I guess my teacher thought I didn't know anything yet at that age, but she didn't know (or might have overlooked) that I could already read at that time. I have this four volume Disney book that my older brothers and I would read and re-enact as part of our afternoon playtime. I remember being the big bad wolf in Three Little Pigs, and I knew my lines. So even before she could teach me to read, I was already reading. I was also fluent in English at that time thanks to Sesame Street and together with this influence and the Disney story book, most play-times my brothers and I spoke in English which was I guess advance in terms of being taught English at schools in my time. When I look back, I can only recall with dismay on why my teacher refused to let me go to first grade at age five or four. I mean, I could deal with it. So far, this is how I remembered my kindergarten years.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
Interesting story. I think that teacher should have been fired that time, really. She doesn't know how to gauge her student's abilities and thus was not able to teach her student correctly...give the fact that she had you as a student for 3 years! I remember the school my older brother and I used to attend. He was accelerated to grade school at the age of six but the school only accepts seven year olds so he went to kindergarten, again. I think people in the past were very narrow-minded when it comes to a child's abilities in relation to age (and sadly, applies that stereotype to every kid).
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Hi anne, your story is Cool, you are still remember whether happened the bad and interesting situation in your life in the past. I am not judge that you are wrong. Thank for sharing your experiences.
@ckyera (17332)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
hello mylot1, nope. i don't enter kindergarten when i was a child...hehe as far as i remember, my mom enrolled me to grade 1 right away..and actually the teacher don't ant to accept me that time coz i am not yet on the right age, but my mom insists coz i am kinda tall for my age and i already want to go to school... so the teacher allo me to enter into her class but just as a guest student...something like that...but good thing really happens that i was able to do well in the class that even ends me being on the honor roll! hehe so the teacher have no choice but to pass me to grade 2! and besides during that time, its not really required to enter kindergarten before going to grade school... my mom is my first teacher, that's why i learn to read & write even before entering school...
1 person likes this
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
That is cool, thank for sharing. You said that "your mom is your first teacher". I remember to my discussion, Parents are the best teacher. Here link http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2256692.aspx You can share a lot of experience about your life there and can be inspired candidate parent like me :)
@ckyera (17332)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
oh yeah...i will check on it... and i hope i can really share some good things about my experiences that can give some inspiration to other people...
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
well, I did go to a kindergarten when I was a child. But I don't have too many memories about it, probably because it's sad. I was always at the top of the class that time and my teacher likes me. I want to be friends with some girls but they don't want to be friends with me. It's like I treat them very special but they don't feel the same for me. Most of the days, I'm alone and with no one. I eat alone and I sometimes cry about it. That's what I remember of how my life is when I was a child. Parents sent me to kindergarten because of course they want me to study.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
14 Mar 10
Yes, I went to kiindergarten and I must have been ready because I remember that I oculdn't wait to go to school and I loved it. I sent all four of my kids to kindergarten and my youngest went when she was still 4 because she has a December birthday. They were all ready and enjoyed it, too.
1 person likes this
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Thank for sharing. Good habit, you and your child went to kindergarten. As you did, i though you had not difficult to prepare your child too.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
14 Mar 10
My parents sent me to a kindergarten because they had to work and didn't want to leave me alone at home when I was a kid, so they sent me to a kindergarten where the teachers would take care of me while they were working hard. I didn't really learn much in the kindergarten, but I think that it is a good option for working parents.
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
beat me there for a few seconds. we both have working parents...
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
i think so, parents work, kids play and learn.
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
Yes, I did go to Kindergarten. This is my first formal education, and my parents felt it was time for me to learn outside the home. Although I struggled a lot and threw tantrums during my first few days of school, I actually enjoyed it because it was my first time to learn and explore outside the home, to have new classmates equals new playmates and just have fun.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
You have an interesting story when you was child. Yes, the first time was so difficult to met new environment and tried to adaptation with other kids. You played, Learned and Grew up together with other kids. Interesting.
@carmenzhj (120)
• New Zealand
14 Mar 10
I went to kindergarten when I was a child, well at the time I only knew that my mum was busy and my dad was not around to support the family so I have be behave in the kindergarten otherwise my mum will be upsad. It is actually quite good that I went I remember I had learned my piano and flute there, althought piano is a bit hard for me to handle but I manage it fine when I finished kindergarten. When I went to primary the teacher were amazing that I could play the piano. I think that just something I know I what I wanted at the time.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Wow, thank for sharing your interesting story in past :) Today, Do you still play piano ?
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
14 Mar 10
well my answer may be a little different then most as i started school when i was 4 so i was younger then most of the other kids, which may be why i had so much trouble in school since everyone was older then i was. It was decided that i was advanced enough to start school early so that is what they did and even my aunt who was a teacher was surprised at my reading level for my age. I really don't remember much about that time of my schooling only that we went home around the middle of the afternoon say around lunchtime.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Waw, you was younger and your have same capability with other kids. No Problem you cannot remember all things. i think you have a funny story or best experience when you was child in kindergarten. :) Thank for response.
• United States
14 Mar 10
Yes, I went to kindergarten. I think that the main reason was because I didn't know English at the time and I live in the US so it was very important for me to learn English as fast as possible. By being surrounded by English speakers for hours it really helped me in learning English.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
That good reason you had studied earlier in English. For Me, My English is not mother Language so it's difficult to find good English environment :) i just learned mother Language in kindergarten . However, several years ago English was introduced in kindergarten.
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
In my country, kindergarten is usually the first step to formal education. Parents are so competitive and so they try to send their child to school at the earliest possible time. When I was a child, we would be sent to nursery school, sort of play school with some formal education. Now, my nephew attends pre-nursery at 2 1/2 years old. I was sent to school at 2 years old because according to my mother she was pregnant at that time with my next sibling and could not attend to me.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
You have a good environment to earlier formal study. It's different in developing country such as 9 year compulsory education program from Government, starting from elementary school.
@emine08 (1551)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
no, i didn't go to kondergarten when I was a child. I live in remove area. and there is no kindergarten in my area at that time.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
De Kakay, I am so sorry to hear that. However, your child is in kindergarten, isn't it? You must move to open area (city or urban area) and get more advantages for education.
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
We learned much during kindergarten. They trained me to recite poem and dance chacha. We had field trip and when a classmate celebrate his or her birthday we join with the birthday party. Although the lessons were simple it was so much fun. Our assignments were mainly coloring book pages and some question and answers including math. I use to play with abc blocks and there was a swing where we take turns.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Cool, You shared me interesting story about you was child. A lot of activities in kindergarten like you said. Kids Play, Learn and Grow.. together. :)
@abitcurious (1422)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
Yes I did. I think both my parents were working then so they had to find something that will make me feel busy too. In the morning I went to daycare and in the afternoon I went to kindergarten. It was quite fun.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Childhood filled with activities. :) i didn't think your are a busy kid.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
14 Mar 10
Well, i dont remember but my parents said yes. I was in kindergarten. I was so naughty is seems. But i feel its the first oppurtunity for the kids to explore the outside world, with new friends, new atmosphere and a new ground to grow up.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Unfortunately you cannot remember it. Your reason is possible, so children can socialize with new environment and help their growth.
• United States
15 Mar 10
When I was younger, it was a requirement that once you reach a certain age you begin school in kindergarten. It is still a requirement so children here go to school all the time. I didn't mind going. I actually liked it. I didn't start hating school until I got older.
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
15 Mar 10
Yes, I went to the kindergarten when I was a child. It seems everybody is the same here. But I have to say it is not a pleasant memory for me when I was in the kindergarten because I went to home once a week. It is a long time. I missed my home. They had to work so that I had to go to the kindergarten most of the time because nobody could take care of me at home. I love China
• United States
20 Mar 10
I did go to kindergarten. It's funny that you ask this question because I thought everyone went to kindergarten. Maybe some people start elementary school without going to kindergarten. I think it helps though even though I didn't learn much but it prepared me for school. Besides, it's fun hanging out other little three year olds.
@bucklord (349)
• United States
14 Mar 10
Yes I went to a full day kindergarten. I think it better prepared me to deal with other kids socially.
@myl0t1 (346)
• Indonesia
14 Mar 10
Full day kindergarten, i though the time is for morning until afternoon. You play, Learn and Grow together with others kids.
@dhysanne (449)
• Philippines
16 Mar 10
Yes, I did. I went to nursery then kindergarten. Its very helpful for parents to have a certified teacher to teach their kids about reading, writing and other social activities. Mothers get busy a t home, and fathers is on his way to work while the kids study in school. I suppose my mother wants me to learn those things and she wants me to meet new friends. And that the first time to meet other people.
@cnn0831 (27)
• Philippines
15 Mar 10
YES! :) My parents let me started my studies in Kindergarten. As far as I remember, it was a half-day/morning class everyday. It was a memorable chapter of my life. After school, me and my classmates can still play at their home. I learned how to socialize with them. I learned how to improve my basic reading, writing skills and more. My teacher was very kind, very patient and supportive. This was the first time that I got an award for academics. To be honest, I don't know the reason why my parents let me in Kindergarten that time... but now, I knew it. :)