Parents often go through the motions when it comes to education. As soon as school begins, it should be attended. But is preschool necessary? And more importantly, is preschool necessary for your child?
Disadvantages
Depending on your schedule, preschools can throw a monkey wrench into the works pretty easily. There may only be certain hours available for your child to attend, and if your work schedule isn’t flexible, that can make things tricky. Some preschools are more flexible than others, but they too are on a set schedule, and oftentimes can’t make a lot of allowances for differing times. Besides that, preschool can be a tad on the expensive side, depending on where you live and what’s available in your area. On average, US preschools are typically between $370 to $1,100 per month, so cost can definitely be a factor for some families. And most preschools won’t have any meals for children while in attendance, meaning you will need to prep a daily meal. This can be not only costly but time consuming for some families, and make the transition a little more awkward for your child to leave home. Some preschools may also require your child to be potty-trained before attending. Depending on your child’s developmental level, this may be a deal breaker. If you’re still in the training phases of potty-training and every preschool around you requires it, then you may need to put the brakes on enrollment, at least for now.
Advantages
One of the biggest advantages of preschool is the opportunity to learn outside of the home. Of course, there’s many years ahead of them for this, but getting them started at a younger age can help them feel more independent and ready to tackle new tasks. It’s a great way to start getting your child used to the more formalized and structured school setting, helping them get prepared for regular school. This also opens up the opportunity for your child to learn about other adult figures, and how they can support them and lead them to success. If they’re only getting directions and learning from you and your significant other, they may not realize there are other adult figures in the world that they can learn from. And leaving the house opens up your child’s world to creating friendships and more social interactions as well. These skills are critical for children as they grow up, and the sooner they can start meeting and talking to new kids, the better. Another huge learning opportunity for your child in preschool revolves around resolving conflict. If a child takes the toy they were playing with, or they’re stuck with a problem or question, they can easily get flustered and lead with their emotions in a potentially negative way. Learning from other children their age, as well as getting guidance from their teachers can help them learn new conflict resolution techniques.
Either Choice is Yours
What it all boils down to, though, is what is best for you and your child. There are many factors to think about when it comes to having your child attend preschool. There is no right or wrong when it comes to your child’s education, and it should be left in your hands. Good luck!
Katie Kyzivat