| There is a simple answer to this complex | | | | regularly interact need less social education than |
| question. No. | | | | children who do not regularly interact with their |
| Children don't need preschool to gain admission to | | | | peers. Parents can replicate these social situations |
| kindergarten or to succeed in life. In fact, the | | | | by seeking out play groups and community |
| wrong preschool experience could potentially set a | | | | activities. |
| child back by creating a negative perception of | | | | It is fairly easy to create a home preschool |
| school, learning, and socializing. However the right | | | | program for children. There are packaged |
| preschool experience can give a child a headstart | | | | curriculums available for purchase, materials |
| academically and socially over peers without | | | | available from local libraries, and information |
| preschool. | | | | available on the internet. You can choose a |
| In order to make the right choice for your child | | | | program created entirely by someone else or |
| you need to look at what a preschool program | | | | create your own individual program to suit you |
| should do for children. Ideally, preschool should help | | | | and your child. Some television programs even |
| integrate children socially so they learn about the | | | | offer additional material on the internet to |
| rules and structures of society in general and | | | | supplement programming that would be suitable |
| school society in particular. In addition, preschool | | | | for a homeschooling project. |
| helps students begin a foundation of academic | | | | A motivated parent can certainly create a quality |
| knowledge including literacy, numbers, and culture. | | | | preschool program for their child that exceeds the |
| The actual content, focus, and structure of | | | | results of any professional program. It is simply |
| preschool programs varies widely from | | | | important to keep in mind your primary goals. |
| community to community (and often even within | | | | What do you want your child to learn? What skills |
| communities) but most programs achieve these | | | | do you want your child to master? Do you simply |
| two primary goals for students. However a | | | | want to prepare your child for kindergarten or do |
| parent can easily accomplish similar goals without | | | | you have more advanced goals in mind? |
| the confines of a specific preschool program. | | | | The right preschool program can definitely give |
| Obviously many families need to arrange some | | | | children a head start on long-term educational |
| type of day care for the preschool age children | | | | success, but not all programs are created equal |
| and if this is the case then it often makes sense | | | | and sometimes even a wonderful preschool |
| to combine day care and preschool. Children who | | | | program isn't right for certain children. Some |
| regularly attend day care programs with other | | | | children may benefit more from spending another |
| children are less likely to need the social aspects | | | | year or two in a more nurturing atmosphere, |
| of a preschool education. They likely learned how | | | | such as home or a small day care. When making |
| to play with others, the rules of sharing, and how | | | | the preschool decision it is important to consider |
| to follow instructions and other key social lessons. | | | | the individual child as well as the individual |
| Similarly children who belong to a large family or | | | | programs available. It is not a one-size-fits-all |
| live in a neighborhood where a group of children | | | | decision. |