What is wrong with ditto sheets for preschool?

Answer 1

I have been in the field for over 25 years and this question keeps coming back again and again. A more appropriate question might be, "Why would one use a ditto/worksheet with preschoolers The arguments against using such materials seem to congregate around the developmental learning styles of most young children. The dominant research/wisdom is that children "learn by doing" with "hands on" activities. The more areas of the brain that are engaged in learning the more easily the child will retain information. This is why activities like drawing letters in the sand or using stamps, etc. are usually suggested. Using materials that are colorful incorporated into children's play so they are exposed to colors will result, when they are developmentally ready, in them beginning to sort by colors and eventually learn names of the colors. This same theory addresses most other areas that adults seem to be concerned about meeting with dittos. This is why educators stress print rich and material rich classroom environments for young children. There also seems to be a concern expressed that if children are working on dittos then they are sitting still for inappropriate lengths of time which again goes against the 'learn by doing IE moving)' research. Another general area of concern is that coloring in forms and writing/marking in some prescribed way stifles a child's creativity. As children's bodies and minds develop they will naturally exhibit more control over the tools they use as well as improving in eye -/hand coordination with the eventual result being that they will be able to meet the expectations of Kindergarten, etc. Often the pressure seems to come from parents who complain that their preschool age children want homework like their older siblings.

My experience is that those adults who feel the children they are responsible for need special assistance for some reason IE "slow learners", environmentally deprived, etc. tend to seek out such additional aids to stimulate the children more in hopes of them developing more rapidly. Some also see sitting and doing dittos as advantageous as it prepares them for similar experiences in Kindergarten.

The biggest problem is when adults use dittos primarily rather than as supplemental activities. This can be a slippery slope and begin to be used as busy work.

Many suggest that children find affirmation in completing dittos however while they may be affirmed regardless of the quality of their work children can see when they have performed tasks "correctly" or not and take away mixed feelings when falsely praised.

Like most things you can probably find a way to use dittos that work for your purposes, however as a general principle most educators will oppose the use of dittos in favor of involving both children and their teacher/parent/care giver in more involved ways of learning as a way of respecting the principle way that we know from research that children learn.