While it is not necessary to send your child to a preschool, there are many benefits to exposure to learning at a young age. Many parents are choosing to home school their preschoolers as a kind of test run for home school as they get older. In this article we will look at actually taking your child to a center outside of your home.

When deciding to send your child to preschool it is important to evaluate what you are wanting for your child. Do you want a structured environment where there are planned activities, teachers involved in the learning and activities of the children, etc? Be aware that there are still many preschools that are what are sometimes labeled as play schools where the child are let to their own with teachers observing and interacting with children. I really felt my son would have benefited from a more structured environment. I worked with him a lot at home before he started kindergarten. Knowing your child’s learning style is very helpful when choosing. Wesley needs lots of structure and a routine where as my daughter is different.

I think the most important benefit of enrolling your child in a preschool program is the social skills learned through interaction with children of his/her age. The child learns how to get along with others who are not a part of their family. They learn sharing, respect for others, how to handle conflicts, and that their world is more than “me”.

Exposing children gradually to letters, numbers, and other cognitive processes will help them feel less overwhelmed when they enter into kindergarten. I remember when I was in kindergarten we sang, ate snack, did a little doodling, cut and glued things. The kindergarten of the past is the preschool of now. When my son began kindergarten, I was shocked at some of the things he brought home from his daily work in the classroom. I am very thankful now that I worked with him and sent him to daycare. Kindergarten might be a culture shock to the child that has had no exposure to a learning environment.

In today’s American society, many times both parents have to work or there are a number of single parent homes. The nurturing and teaching parents once did, are now left to preschool teachers. Parents today may not have the time to work with their child on learning numbers, letters, etc. A good quality program can help you in this area. Just reinforce what your child is learning at preschool with small family activities at home.

The age of preschoolers (3 years to about 5 years old) is a time when children are so open to new experiences and learning. Their little minds are like sponges taking in everything in their environment. Starting them on the road of learning at this age may give them a long lasting enthusiasm for education.