Figuring out where to send your children for schooling is an extremely important decision. There are many choices out there but finding a good preschool is where it starts. Preschool sets the tone for the school years to come. You will be able to see how your child grows and flourishes in a social setting like preschool and this will help you determine what kind of schools your child will need as they grow. There are many reasons for going to preschool. Here are a few options and their pros and cons.
Private Preschool
Private preschools tend to be a much smaller group which gives your child a much better chance of adjusting quickly and fitting in. Smaller settings also allow teachers that one on one time with each child to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. If these can be determined early on, then the child will be able to overcome weaknesses and build on strengths before anything in set in stone. Private preschools also encourage parent involvement more than any other school so this helps the parent/child relationship and also allows parents to have a sat in their child’s education.
The downside to private preschools is that they are pretty pricey. Tuition cost can vary depending on the school but it can be difficult for parents to keep up with paying for it, especially when you have several children.
Public Preschool
Public preschools offer a bus system that private schools do not have so that you do not have to take your children to school yourself and still know that they are safe. This age is such critical age and with public preschools, lower income families are able to send their children to public preschool without having to worry about the cost of education.
However, on the other hand, public schools sometimes do not focus on teaching the children anything but only focus on the socialization. There should be an even balance between the two methods. It is thought that children who go to public preschools will not have the same advantages as those you go to private schools.
Home School Preschool
There are some fantastic preschool curriculum available to parents who would rather teach their children at home throughout preschool. Children that are home schooled in the beginning are often ahead when they do start school.
While this is not the way with all children, it is a common thought that children who are home schooled tend to be socially awkward because of not having that day to day interaction with other kids. However, this can be overcome by enrolling the child in extra curricular activities after school like sports teams or drama clubs, etc.
Forego Preschool
There are many benefits of preschool and if you choose to forego it, you may be setting your child up to be behind once they actually start school. While preschool is not a requirement, it prepares your child to be in a school setting. Preschool is a great place to learn but the truth is, children will learn wherever they are, be it home or school. There are so many things for them to see and pick up but the main thing about preschool is the socialization. If a child does not go to preschool and then is thrown into kindergarten, where they really do need to start learning, it may be a shock for them. The shock could prevent them from learning for a time as they adjust and they may end up falling behind.
The first few years of a child’s school life are so important. When they are this young, they pick things up like a sponge and learn so quickly that even a few missed days can cause them to fall behind. Whether they learn at home, at private school or public, young children need to be learning all the time and picking up new skills and information. This will help them not only in kindergarten or even high school but for years to come. The foundation is the most important part of the structure and it is crucial for kids to get these learning blocks in as soon as they can in order to build on them.