The concept of “preschool” how it looks today, hasn’t always been around, which is one of the main reasons it can be such a hotly debated topic among parents.
Does enrolling your child in preschool help to set them up for success or is “letting them just be kids” for a little while longer the better answer.
I’m excited to be partnering with KinderCare today to share some of the reasons why I am SO glad we chose preschool with our children, and to help you know a little bit more what to expect when you enroll your kids in preschool!
One of the biggest myths I’ve heard about preschool is that it’s mini Kindergarten. That kids will be required to sit at desk all day long and memorize long boring facts.
But preschool is so much better than that.
It’s where kids go to learn and to play.
It’s where kids learn that learning is FUN, and not dull or rigid.
They get their hands dirty exploring science and create masterpieces in art classes.
They learn numbers and letters, and fun fact, KinderCare students enrolled in their Kindergarten programs tested at a first grade level for reading and math!
Kids learn a lot in the preschool years, but most importantly they learn to love school. I watched my kids skip off to their classrooms and come home gushing with stories of the wonderful things they discovered that day.
I loved our preschool teachers because they were the extra support I needed as a mom. They were able to let me know when my child was excelling, and where they might need some extra support.
I just have two kids, so it’s hard for me to know how they measure up to their peers, but their teachers have always been wonderful to give me tips on how to nurture their love for learning at home and how to give each child room to shine in the particular areas that they are gifted in. Things I never would have known without the awesome support of an incredible preschool team.
When my daughter was first starting, I remember wondering if she might be a little bit behind her peers. For reference, my son is REALLY really smart. I know every mom thinks her kids are the smartest, but my son was (and still is) noticeably above average smart. He was using baby sign language (identifiable by other people) three months old. He was speaking in small sentences at 18 months, and he totally threw me off when it came to “what to expect” from my second child.
I knew my daughter was bright, but when we put her in preschool I remember thinking she was probably just on-level or maybe a bit behind.
However, her teachers were repeatedly impressed with how quickly she was advancing, and would point out many different things she’d do during the day that were advanced for her age, things I had no idea were advanced because she is smart in a different way than her brother!
She was ahead in letters and numbers too, but truly exceptional in ways I didn’t even know to measure!
Her preschool teachers helped me give her the credit she deserved for being a smart little cookie as well! I loved this help from them, because it has helped her grow up not in her brother’s shadow. I never want her to feel diminished by his strengths, but rather, feel like she can shine in her own amazing way!
Her preschool teachers taught us how to do that!
Although my kids did learn their letters, basic math skills, some Spanish, art and Science at preschool, they learned a lot more too. They learned social skills that will last them a lifetime. They learned how to work together with kids in their same age groups and how to solve problems as a team.
They learn focus and endurance and even the importance of routine and schedule. These are skills my kids have carried on to Elementary school, and have made a huge impact on their success and enjoyment of school each year, and I know it will be the same as they continue through the year. (Research backs this assessment too, it’s not just my kids!)
To be honest, I was always on the fence about what I really thought of preschool, before we put our kids in classes, and now, looking back, I’m so glad that we did. It was truly the best decision for them as individuals, as well as the best choice for our family!
If you are considering enrolling your kids in preschool this year, be sure to check out the KinderCare nearest to you and schedule a tour!
Ron says
Great article Paula! Thank you for sharing it. Personally, I feel parents should send their children to preschool. I think that early social interaction with new people greatly benefits them in the long run. They learn how to make friends, how to think for themselves, and how fun learning can be, which is something you touched on in this article. Granted, the transition period from being around your parents all day to being around people you don’t know as a child is a hard one, and some children handle it better than others, but it is something that everybody has to go through. So I say better sooner than later.