Boys only vs. Coed preschool...

shannm

We are looking at kindergartens and potential preschools. One of the possibilites is boys only. It is a very well respected school in the area but the boys only aspect kind of turns me off. I would be ok with boys only high school (maybe) but separation of the sexes at this age seems off for some reason. Some of his greatest friends now are girls. So what are your opinions? What are the benefits of separation at this young age?

KathrynMD

I'm a big fan of single sex education and went to an all women's college (and regular co-ed public high school).  I would be OK w/ DD going to a single sex high school or college, but it doesn't seen necessary at this age and all the unnecessary segregation at this age when some of your most basic values are being established doesn't seem right to me.  What's the school's rationale?

neverblushed

Both my kids attend co-ed public schools, and I teach at a co-ed private K-12 school.  So, to me, co-ed seems "normal."  It's hard for me to give single-sex education a fair shake.

However, I have occasionally attended a school event (field trip, project, performance, grade activity) that was single-sex, either by design or because it just worked out that way.  I'm always pleasantly surprised at how easily and smoothly things run in a single-sex setting.  It's at these moments when I think maybe there's something to single-sex education after all.

All that being said, however, I feel like preschool is all about learning about yourself and learning how to get along with all different kinds of people, including girls.

Ultimately, you don't seem to keen on the idea yourself.  Your gut is telling you that this is not what you want for your son, at least in preschool.  There's probably a co-ed preschool that is just as academically fantastic as the boys' school and more in line with your own philosophy.  

CarolinaDaisy

Personally, I think that just might be awesome. Curriculum might be more geared to the physical activity level of little boys. I'd look into and keep an open mind.

We don't have that option here, but I have wished for it so often. I'm not always sure my son gets enough physical activity at preschool. He's so much more energetic than the girls and needs more time to run his wiggles out!

 

jlw2505

I see no purpose in doing a single sex preschool.  Kids learn so much from playing with everyone that it seems silly to me to have them separate in preschool

shannm

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  And nope, not Haverford, Chestnut Hill.

I think we found a coed school that will be a good match for us this upcoming year. Fingers crossed...it is going to be a big change for DS!