I am all for giving children opportunities to succeed however programs like this really concern me. The growing trend in America seems to be more programs, more schooling, more money going from parents who are just trying to make ends meet. What ever happened to just letting kids be kids. Unstructured free time is vital to the learning, growth and emotional wellbeing of young children. Kids need to be given a chance to be kids.

Yes I do agree kids do need to be kids, any quality early childhood program allows for ample amounts of free and unstructured play while also providing a safe environment that promotes their emotional wellbeing, physical health and development as well as cognitive growth. Quality programs also provide the social and emotional guidance needed to help develop and enhance problem solving skills. Having young children in these programs allows trained professionals to monitor their growth and development and begin early interventions for those children who appear to be lacking in any major developmental area. Early intervention is the way to go; many children who are provided with these early intervention services need much less programming in the future and are more successful.
The unfortunate reality is that many programs are unable to provide quality professionals because of lack of funding and are forced to hire untrained employees with a lack of experience and have no funds to provide even those interested in furthering their education any training. With the economy as it is more and more people are forced to find work and more children are in need of a safe place to go. Where would you want your child, in a safe environment that employs trained professionals with established track records and relationships or simply drop them off somewhere and let someone “watch” them while you are away.
I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one as well.

I do not agree with President Obama on the Zero to Five Program. There have been generations of kids that never went to preschool and excelled in academics. Preschool was created for the working parents - someone else to teach their children when they are both away working.
Read the hundreds or articles on the power and education in play - children are learning when they play. Read the confirmed articles about starting academics at too early of an age and burnout by mid-elementary school.

I am all for early intervention in K and 1st grade to detect learning problems. Universal preschool. I would never want to be told what to do with my children and have them be sent away at such an early age when they can be learning so much at home.

i want for my daughterall counting and alphabets.

As an educator, I, too, am keeping my fingers crossed for this. I am all for early childhood education with stipulations. The education should be developmentally appropriate for 0-5's. It should also include a variety of research based practices and programs that encourage discovery, academic language development, and a love of learning. And, God forbid it, no testing the little ones, please. I am not a proponent of any one program but I hope that we will hear of Montessori programs becoming available to a wider spectrum of the population. Also, funding for special needs evaluations and interventions in the earliest years of any child's life should be a requirement. Finally, I hope there will be funding for parent training and accountability. Parents are a child's first teacher. We cannot, with all of our best efforts and programs, reform education without all the players.

As a former pre-school teacher (7 years) and a current homeschooling mother of four (ages 15 - 3) I can't agree more on the topic of those early years. They are certainly the most important! However, stop for a moment and think about the surroundings in even the best pre-school. Is not the entire room and the daily schedule created specifically to suit the child? And, what could be wrong with that? Well, where is the child learning boundries,or, that the world is not centered around him/her? We are raising and have raised a generation that is self-centered and self-serving. If they are not being entertained they don't know what to do with themselves! Let's not call for the institutionalization of children at younger and younger ages. On the other hand, the possibilities are endless for a young child exposed to the people, places, activities, ideas and beliefs of those most important to him or her. Experiencing the love and caring that creates a foundation for success. Usually the parents take on that role - and should! Diversity has made our country great - not intitutions. The people, caring so much and wanting what is best for their children from their own perspective and experience, have played the most important role in that creating diversity.
And please do not undermine the already shaky confidence of parents today by suggesting that training and accountability are the keys to success.
I see so many families that are so pulled, trying to keep up with the pressure that already exists to conform that they are too busy to take care of the important job of being the Parent.
Are America's families perfect? Of course not. Is government intervention into the lives of private citizens the answer? Of course not!
If you love your children, your country, our schools, ect., find families in need and help them rise to the occassion.
Zero to 5, yes, but not this way. We are doing more harm than good intruding into American homes and families. I hope our government spends more time keeping us safe and less time protecting us from ourselves.

Whatever happened to parents being responsible for their own children?
Sure as my three were growing up adjustments had to be made. I gave up a career and managed to pickup a part time job at their elementary school. They may not have had all the material things but they had mine and my husbands attention and plenty of free time to play and grow. I would never entrust my children to a government to educate.
I think that many of the problems with families today is the lack of parental time spent with the children. Children raised in close families are more well adjusted and confident then those turned over to daycare at such an early age.

As a former preschool teacher, I appreciate what the president is trying to do. Part of allowing kids to be kids is being in a social environment, being ready for school is more than just learning the ABCs or 123s...but unless you are below a certain income, these programs don't accept you. Years ago when he was born I received the zero through 5 mailers and although they knew we didn't need it, all the support I could deal with. Now that my husband has a decent paying job, we qualify for nothing and it is up to me to make sure he gets the socialization as well as the knowledge to deal with kindergarten next fall. I think the whole head start system needs to be re-thought, because in my case and I know I am not the only one, thank goodness for the internet.

As a new parent to a 1 year old I am feeling that Obama's proposal is too government heavy. From my personal perspective, I do have my daughter in an at home daycare. As much as I would love to stay home with her I just do not currently have that ability. I feel that by being in an at home daycare she is recieving very personal, one on one care. She recieves lots of hugs, homemade food, plenty of sleep with play and learning all day long. I had her in an actual day care facility for one week and I saw a different person each day that I picked her up. I never knew from day to day who was going to be caring for her. So, if I can't do it myself, I am proud to have found another mother who can do it for me. In addition the at home daycare is much more affordable than the daycare facilities with less restrictions. The other benefit being her health and safety. With less children in this environment the less chance of getting sick and I can easily see how clean the home is kept.

You can clearly see my list of worries with Universal Preschool. The biggest concern being one on one care. Do you remember getting hugs in Kindergarden or pre-school and feeling that you're teacher truly "loved" you? I don't. Though I want my daughter to be ready for the learning environment when that time comes I don't want her to ever feel a lack of love and I don't believe that that will make her self-centered and self-serving. I think that being loved by her parents and put in a loving family daycare environment she will only exude self confidence.

I think improving the current head start program would be wonderful. I think paying teachers like the professionals they are would be a dream come true. I think that putting government regulations and funding into preschool and maybe even daycare could only benefit our children. But, most importantly, I think as parents we still need to be allowed to decide how and when and where our 0 to 5 children are educated.

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