Is Your Toddler Ready for Preschool?
Author: Stef Daniel
As early as the age of two, many parents begin to consider whether preschool would be a good thing for their child to attend. There is a lot of pressure on parents to educate and stimulate their children at a young age. So much so, that parents who choose to wait feel as though they are not providing enough for their children. While there is debate over which is better, sending them or waiting, the real decision is up to you! The best thing is to take into consideration your budget, your child's personality, and the available options in your locale.
You will find that most child professionals recommend the socialization of schools. However, there is some compelling information that many parents aren't aware of. The first is that the preschool curriculums in most states are age determinant. This means that no matter how smart your child is, they will still have the same curriculum that is suitable for a child who has never attended preschool. They will teach the alphabet, letters, and some minimal writing skills.
Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau estimate that just under half of all 3 to 4-year-olds attend some sort of preschool. However, Federal educational directors cannot mandate curriculum changes until this percent reaches over 90% and equal opportunity is available for funded programs. In other words, as far as the curriculum, the learning template in public schools will be redundant when they are in pre-k. Moreover, children who don't go will be learning the same things in due time and at a point in their life when their brain function is greatly enhanced. Try teaching a 2-year-old and 5-year-old the alphabet and you will see there is a distinct difference in how fast they learn.
The majority of the goals in preschool involve socialization. You have to consider your child. While some may be introverted and shy to a fault, others are wildly social and outgoing. Your shy child may fair well and have an easier transition into pre-k or kindergarten if they have some exposure. A social child may actually enjoy the experience. The best thing is to take cues from your child.
While budget is no one's business, it is yours and preschool is pricey. If you are a stay at home parent family, you may not be able to afford it. There is no shame in keeping your children home if this is your family plan and extending your finances to fit in is unnecessary. Kids can socialize in a McDonald's playhouse just as well as at school.
Consider your choices as well. Never underestimate a church preschool as long as they are working from a curriculum. One advantage to these is that they rarely require you to go to church there and few are denominationally based. Most are often half day or partial-week programs, which will give you just enough time to grocery shop and see the dentist before its time to come back.
Parents should also look at the qualifications of the teachers. These people are in charge of your children and you should expect some sort of education on their part. Otherwise, they are often little more than a glorified day care program. If you want your child to go to a specific school, interview teachers and administrators and try to get in touch with some of the parents with kids who go there.
The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer. You should follow your feelings and consider the way your child reacts and how well they seem to be developing. If you are happy with them at home and not attending school, then you are certainly ensuring you have the chance to spend as much time with your children as possible. This makes you lucky and is nothing you should feel ashamed of. Similarly, if you feel they would grow further in school or need something that you aren't giving them, then sending them to preschool is a good choice. There is little to no research or studies to indicate that sending kids to 2 and 3-year-old programs makes them smarter in the long run, and the bulk of your decision should be based on your personal feelings and vision for your children.
