Attending preschool is not mandatory in the United States. It’s totally fine, and extremely common, to have your children skip preschool or pre-K and keep them at home until they’re ready for kindergarten.

A common question many parents face is one that goes “Does my child really need preschool?” The answer is yes! A preschool sets the foundation for learning, growth as well as emotional development that will benefit your child when they advance further to kindergarten, elementary school and so on.

For most early childhood programs a Preschool classroom is for children who are 3-4 years old and experiencing their first classroom setting while a Pre-Kindergarten classroom is for children who are 4-5 years old and will be attending Kindergarten the following school year.

While preschool is not necessary for later success in school, it can have a variety of social and educational benefits for children. Child-development experts recommend that all children, by 3 years of age, spend time regularly with other kids of the same age.

Establish strong routines at home.

1. Bedtime Routines. Bedtime routines ensure kids get a good night’s sleep and will be ready for the next day’s adventures.
2. Reading Routines. Parents are encouraged to read with their children for at least 20 minutes a day to build language and literacy skills.
3. Family Mealtime Routines.

Importance of Preschool education is that it helps in a child’s emotional, social and personal growth and development. Although a child learns to talk while at home, in a preschool continuous interaction and exposure with children of the same age group and with teachers helps them to enhance their communication skills.

Depending on state licensing regulations and enrollment needs, the preschool age range is typically from 2 ½ to 4 ½ years old; children in a pre-kindergarten class are generally 4 or 5 years old. In a pre-kindergarten program, however, children are ready for more advanced learning and organized skill building.

The first year of primary education is commonly referred to as kindergarten and begins at or around age 5 or 6. Subsequent years are usually numbered being referred to as first grade, second grade, and so forth.

Our choices were as follows:

• Send your child to school every day all day free with a state program.
• Send child to preschool every day all day with a private program.
• Send child to preschool 2 or 3 mornings a week and pay the same tuition you’d pay if they went all day every day.

Skills Often Expected at the Beginning of Kindergarten

• Identify some letters of the alphabet (Letter Town is a classic book that teaches the ABCs.)
• Grip a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly (with the thumb and forefinger supporting the tip)
• Write first name using upper- and lowercase letters, if possible.

recognize and name basic shapes: square, circle, triangle, and rectangle. recognize and name numbers 1-10, even when they are out of order. count to 20. count 10 objects, pointing to each one as she counts.

Top 10 Preschool Pros & Cons – Summary List

The answer to the question, “Do kids need preschool?” is a resounding “Yes!”, but there are equally viable alternatives to traditional preschool. Preschool is not synonymous with daycare; the key word is “school.”

The answer to the question, “Do kids need preschool?” is a resounding “Yes!”, but there are equally viable alternatives to traditional preschool. Preschool is not synonymous with daycare; the key word is “school.” Preschool offers an academic curriculum geared to 3- to 5-year-olds.

No matter how simple the Preschool For All is, compared to the tuition-based preschools, attending that free public preschool is still better because at least the children can have somewhat of basic skills and understandings rather than knowing nothing at all. Barnett, W. S. (2008). Preschool education and its lasting effects: Research and policy

Not attending preschool can lead to the children being very quiet and antisocial from very young ages because they can be afraid of being in a room with so many children and also being told what to do by someone that isn’t even one of their parents or guardians.