To Adeline Roux, teacher at Illiers-Combray (Eure-et-Loir), early schooling is a good thing, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. “School stimulates them and makes it possible to compensate for socio-cultural differences. Whatever may be said, it is also a driving force in language learning. When the little ones make a mistake, we try to catch them as often as possible. At the reception, in the morning, we take the opportunity to talk to them and make them talk. It is also a good way to make them access socialization. For some, it’s true, it’s a bit hard at first, they are tired and have a hard time staying focused. But it is enough to know how to organize the day well, with very short activities, free play times and moments of rest for everything to go well… ”
Jocelyne Lamotte, headmistress of a nursery school in Montcenis (Saône-et-Loire), also recognizes the benefits of early schooling. After thirty years of profession and passion, it is the experience that speaks. “School at 2 years old obviously brings learning benefits, promotes open-mindedness and a taste for discovery. We also realize that the separation from the mother is less difficult than with children of 3 years. Of course, the teacher must remain attentive to the children, while adapting to their rhythm… ”But before accepting a 2-year-old child, Jocelyne always makes sure that he is fit to return to school. ‘school. Supporting medical certificate, the child must also have acquired cleanliness. But that’s not all ! She also makes a point of meeting the mothers to see if their request is not rather to make babysitting at a lower cost! “If that’s the case or if I see that the child is not ready, I of course try to dissuade them. The school is not a daycare and the small risk of having a difficult education. ”
- Françoise Travers, teacher for 35 years in kindergarten in Lucé (Eure-et-Loir), is rather against it, at least under current conditions. “As long as the school remains with heavy enrollments – in some classes we reach more than 30 children – I am not in favor of schooling at 2 years old. The little ones need to play, to move and their level of development, motor and psychological, has nothing to do with that of children of 3 years. If I were to work only with toddlers, I would never have continued down this path. In addition, by eating in the canteen, they make continuous days far too long for them, and I do not see where is their interest, except only that of the parents! The little ones are ten times better at the nursery! You should know that there are exactly the same educational, educational and fun projects as in kindergarten. And the nursery staff do their job remarkably well. The care of the little ones is more suitable, with an adult for 5-8 children. It is also ideal for promoting language because the child finds himself more easily in front of an adult to speak … “
May the parents who have no choice be reassured, all is not “all white or all black”. Some early schooling goes well, the main thing being to listen to your child and to clearly discern his needs. There are no well-established rules, the age of schooling depends on each little one, as evidenced by a mother on the infobebes.com forum:
“My little boy will be 3 years old next January and I hesitate for his return to school. For my other children, I didn’t ask myself any questions, they went to school for their 2nd birthday. They wanted to go and it went really well. They were clean and more or less self-sufficient. They even asked me for school on Sundays, which is still the case for my second who recently offered to install a cot for him in his class! That way, he is sure not to miss any school day. However, I hesitate with my fourth, it seems so small to me… ”
In the meantime, why not start by putting your child to school only in the morning? An intermediate solution, to allow him to progress at his own pace before leaving him, when the time comes, all day …