Ten Cautions For Using Preschool Worksheets

ttle learner is growing up fast! What better wayfrom material. After all, if worksheets are the
to start getting him ready for kindergarten thananswer, why haven’t we replaced
using worksheets? After all, preschool worksheetspreschool teachers with copy machines? The vital
are great for introducing concepts like numbers,component of human taught concepts is
letters, shapes, and colors. Plus, worksheets helpnecessary for young children to learn. You should
develop your child’s dexterity and motornot expect to place a paper in front of a child and
skills by having him practice holding drawinghave him learn by himself.
utensils like pencils, markers, colors, and crayons.7. Worksheets are often used as proof of a
Parents can argue the attributes or drawbacks ofchild’s progress. However, this is not
using worksheets; but they should be aware ofevidence enough. If a child is struggling
using preschool worksheets without properacademically, the teaching practice should be
teacher instruction, too early, or incorrectly. Notre-evaluated, not the use or lack of use regarding
convinced? Here are several reasons toworksheets.
reconsider.8. Worksheets force you to teach the material
1. Worksheets can only be used one way.presented, effectively making parents or teachers
Worksheets and coloring books, when used alonedependent upon them because of easy use. This
are generally considered convergent materials.in turn stifles creative, careful lesson planning that
They teach a child to think there is only one singlecan engage a child in developing other fine motor
correct way to use them, and worksheetsskills.
require little if any higher-order thinking skills.9. Worksheets, especially used in a preschool day
2. Worksheet-based curriculum for young learnerscare setting, send a child the wrong message
used without supplements can lessen enthusiasmabout having to do homework. It tells both child
for learning due to amount of material presented.and parent that worksheets are the best way to
Worksheets are also used as a crutch for merelylearn, even if it is not appropriate for young,
occupying a child’s time.developing minds.
3. Worksheets typically have a correct answer. A10. Worksheets do not necessarily prepare a child
child learns that if they put down a wrongfor kindergarten. Justifying the use of worksheets
answer, it will be emotionally costly. Worksheetsfor preschoolers because that’s what they
may make a child feel ignorant or incompetent, soneed to know in kindergarten, parents often fall
he learns to stop taking risks by guessing.into a trap of peer pressure because
Worksheets teach a child to be correct ratherthat’s what other children are using.
than to learn.Creating an ineffective, perpetual worksheet
4. Fear of being wrong with worksheets puts ancycle, each successive grade learns to rely on
unnecessary stress on a child causing behaviorworksheets for instruction, rather than teacher
problems, frustration, withdrawal fromexplanation.
participation, or even reclusiveness.Although preschool worksheets are often praised
5. Worksheets do not teach a child how to followby parents and educators alike in preparing
written directions because he does not yet knowchildren for kindergarten, we must keep in mind
how to read or write. Completed worksheets alsothe drawbacks of using these tools without
do not mean that the child has comprehended theteacher instruction, too early, or incorrectly. Even
material.if the material itself is educational, it
6. Worksheets should be used for children whodoesn’t necessarily mean that it is suitable
developmentally understand them and can profitfor your preschooler.