Preschool is a right of passage for many children. Starting kindergarten without preschool is ideal for some, but for others, that year or two of guidance before real school begins is a must. There are a few things you should know about preschool that can help you determine if your child will benefit from it or not.
Things To Know About Preschool
First, preschool is not a daycare, as many people believe. Preschool is a chance for children to learn social skills, basic skills like colors and shapes, how to identify some letters and numbers, and an introduction to the basic structure that they will experience when they start kindergarten. Preschool helps children develop skills that are necessary for their success down the line and to help them acclimate to being in a school setting rather than just being at home with parents and siblings.
Another thing to note is that not all children will benefit from preschool. While it does teach social skills and structure, some children simply do not need preschool. It should be the determination of the parent if the child needs preschool or if they are school ready without it. If you think that your child might benefit from preschool, you can always speak with a professional about what options there are and what benefits there are for your child.
What To Look for in a Preschool
There are a few different things that you need to consider when enrolling your child in preschool. You need to consider the size of the classes, how the children are split up, and if there are older or younger children in the preschool. For preschools hosted by schools or head start programs, odds are there are only going to be other 4-year-old children preparing to enter school the next year.
For preschool programs hosted by daycares, you may have smaller children in the same facility and even at some of the same activities. Next, you need to consider what type of curriculum might be taught. Do you want a curriculum that will be heavy on learning? Do you want them to teach things like basic reading? Decide what other concerns you might have for your child in particular.
The last thing you want to think about is what type of facility it is. Do you want your child to be at a school, potentially the school they will attend, or do you like other facilities? In some cases, a preschool is only going to last half of the day, so you also have to figure out who will be home with your child when they come home or if they will go to daycare before or after.
Preschool is a great asset, you just have to take the time to find the facility and the class that works for you and your child.