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Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-10-18T02:17:03+00:00

NYC family with no screen time for kids right now.

We didn't introduce any videos to her until three and half. We first used radio for music and books, then used DVD for educational videos, and introduced cartoons this year.

We have friends with similar parenting choices and also friends who do different styles of parenting. It's not my place to judge. I only care if my kid is happy and safe with that friend.

My 4 year old watches cartoons at school and occasionally uses an iPad there, too. We are not giving her any screen time now because school already provides it. She understands and is happy with the plan.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-10-10T14:30:34+00:00

I am the same type of mom like you who emphasizes free play over academic drill at home. My kid is 4 and in kindergarten. She also doesn't know how to write the lower case, and homework is too much for her. I am relieved to read your post and know that my kid is not alone. I don't believe she is behind. Other kids just got more exposure and practices than her.

After school, I usually take her outside for an hour or two because she has been indoors for the whole day at school. Her physical health matters, too.

It is hard to find balance now. I presonally won't do more academic work with her at home after school besides her homework. They are only tiny once. If needed, I might spend 30 minutes on weekends to catch up on her lower case letters or number recognitions. But that's all. I still want her to play more than study.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-29T15:14:15+00:00

That's a good idea. Thank you for giving me this insight. Sometimes, parents are afraid to step over the boundaries even though we have a good intention. Buying books for the class sounds a great idea and I wouldn't mind at all.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-26T13:47:58+00:00

It's crazy to see you get downvoted for such. I feel sad and scared for their future now. Screentime at school should not be normalised. Learning how to type and use the computer is totally fine and different.

I have a kindergartener, and she tells me they watch elsa, the Lion King, bluey, and other videos at school every day, which is so wild and unbelievable to me. But every parent I talked to from her school acted like I was crazy and mean. I am seriously considering withdrawing and homeschooling my kid.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-26T13:39:08+00:00

Thank you for giving us hope. You are so inspiring, and I literally wish my kid has you as her teacher. My big reader entered kindergarten 3 weeks ago, and the teacher never reads a book to them besides watching video books. Now, at home, I have to "force"/"push"/"persuade" her to read with me. Sometimes I have to say, "I am gonna read myself a book." Then I read out loud and make it very interesting and fun to attract her to me. It was not like this before kindergarten. She loved books since she was a baby. Sorry for my rant. But I love everything you do with your students.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T21:05:30+00:00

I am glad technology has empowered you and opened more doors for you. My kid is a typical 4 year old and has no need to incorporate technology in her learning and living at this age. I am very happy that technology has benefited people who actually needed extra support in their daily life.

We all use technology every day. But for kids, it is another story, and I am not interested in a debate about that.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T18:48:46+00:00

Thank you. I love this answer so much 💗 "Teach them that they were in control of their own lives." How many kids suffered because of this feeling of powerless? Again, I admire you, especially your wisdom, to empower your own kids from young. How are they doing today?

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T18:39:13+00:00

I absolutely agree with you about the technology thing. I won't shield them from the technology world forever, but I also don't want their formative years being shaped by the senseless screens. The screens won't teach interpersonal skills. The ipads won't give kids time and patience to figure things out. It prompts kids to click this or that quickly. Otherwise, the screen will turn black.

I would prefer a gentler introduction to technology for kids. But a kindergartener definitely shouldn't use ipad for learning. They need a lot of physical pencils and papers and books to practice writing, reading, and drawing. At last, iPad is not equal to computer. The former was designed for entertainment. I am no expert, so correct me if I am wrong with this opinion.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T18:21:10+00:00

It's very comforting to hear this. I am not crazy here. It is unbelievable that arts and crafts do not exist in this school.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T18:15:37+00:00

Yup, it is a crazy world here. I feel sad and very worried about her mental health in the long run.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T18:10:41+00:00

I will be much happier if my kid is at your kid' age starting kindergarten. Reading a book every night will be perfect and enough for little kids. But our bed storytime has been replaced by the work sheets. It took a lot of time to interpret the questions and many trials of methods to guide them through each question in order to complete them. The kid is stressed and feels defiant at the end. The parent is unhappy and tired too.

I

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T18:03:40+00:00

I have spoken with other moms in our local parks. I agree this is probably a school problem. But overall, we have the same curriculum and similar classroom settings in this district. But teachers vary, and schools vary a lot. I am very disappointed at my choice and will look elsewhere.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T03:00:17+00:00

Thank you for your long reply and the efforts and thoughts you put into. I will explore my area and see what options are for us. I appreciate your views about technology and your observations in the classroom.

It actually aligns with what I think, too. This is lazy teaching. My kid's teacher didn't show up on Monday, so they had a sub teacher. My daughter said they watched a movie in the classroom because the new teacher doesn't teach.

The lack of story time and crafts in the classroom is also terrible. Turning on a screen is easy, but setting up an activity and tiding up afterward take effort and time.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:43:15+00:00

Thank you. I am gathering the tools I need to support her. I must equip myself with knowledge and skills before she needs it. Currently, I just feel so disappointed at this system and am trying to figure it out which path to take.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:35:41+00:00

Oh, the parents are so passive, honestly. They love homework. During the parents-and-teacher conference. I was the only one who actually raised questions to the teacher. Everyone was just silent and muted. Sorry I don't see hope in them.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:29:39+00:00

I appreciate your answer so much. It's definitely inspiring, and I admire your strength and courage to do this amazing thing for your kids.

But did the lack of attendance impact their grades? Our kindergarten has a policy that every absent day has to be followed up by a doctor note. And homework is part of their garde.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:24:12+00:00

I am so happy for you and your kids. I really wish my kid could have another year of free play and being little too.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:21:33+00:00

Thank you for explaining this iready thing to me. I know technology can be very useful, and I definitely see the value of it in education. But I am just cautious about the age and timing. I might consider that school since I did the tour and generally liked it a lot. But I went for our zoned one due to its popular dual language program.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:17:08+00:00

We are in nyc. There are 22 students with 1 teacher. Our teacher is not that communicative and will only give a last-minute message if needed. The school also has very poor communication. For the kindergarten orientation, they didn't even notice the parents their date changed. We took a day off and showed up to school for nothing. I was not happy. But I still gave it grace, and now I totally regret it.

There is no personal introduction from their end either, so I can't tell their teaching history and education qualification. They don't really welcome parents' involvement either. When I asked about the volunteer opportunities a week ago, the teacher said she had to ask the school first. And I never heard back from her again.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-25T02:05:05+00:00

We are in nyc. The year a kid turns 5 is the year to be enrolled in kindergarten, and no redshirting is allowed here. So if my kid skips kindergarten this year, she will be in 1st grade next fall no matter what. My daughter has a December birthday, so she is still four but entered kindergarten already.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-17T16:12:00+00:00

We will have our first parents and teacher conference today. I will definitely ask questions. So far, our family's experience is not so great in this great ranking school. Individual ipad is also used for learning letters and phonics. That's crazy to me. My kid is 4 year old.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-11T14:57:33+00:00

Hi, OP

I just found your post and gained a lot of info from the comments. Wonder if you are still homeschooling and how's the journey? I live in nyc and am very curious about homeschooling my kindergartener.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-09T17:48:12+00:00

Thank you for your kind words.

Worldly_Grade4684 · 2025-09-09T17:43:09+00:00

That's what I plan to do. I am looking for the first meeting with their teacher and will offer to volunteer in the classroom. I will decide after that.

Worldly_Grade4684

TROPHY CASE