Many parents are choosing to homeschool their preschoolers. Is preschool necessary to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond?
We’ve all heard the debate over day care vs stay-at-home parenting. And then there’s the well worn discussion of school vs homeschooling. In the middle of the bridge between these two issues is the question: Is preschool necessary for kids whose parents stay home with them?
The advantages of preschool – learning environment and kindergarten readiness, socialization with other children, exposure to a non-parent adult in charge – can all be tackled with a preschool child at home. While children may need these things eventually, they may not need them every day or even on a regular basis. Parenting preschoolers doesn’t require a teaching degree or any special skills, just the willingness to teach your child.
If your home situation is working for you, your child and your family, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t continue right up to your child’s entrance into kindergarten, say Laura Davis and Janis Keyser in an article on iVillage.
Pros and cons of preschool aside, there are rich learning opportunities for your child right at home – exploring the house and neighborhood, the laundry, the kitchen and more, Davis and Keyser wrote. Stay-at-home parents who want to extend their time at home with their children shouldn’t feel obligated to enroll their children in full-time preschool. Instead, parents should explore preschool co-ops, drop-in programs and part-time preschools to expose their children to the benefits of preschool without giving up all their time with them.
Is Preschool Necessary at All?
It’s debatable whether any of it is necessary. Barbara Frank, a Wisconsin mom and author of homeschooling books, blogs about the necessity of preschool. Why rush putting your children in school? she asks in her blog, The Imperfect Homeschooler.
“My issue is with the parents who believe preschool is the only way to raise an intelligent, successful child, or who buy into that so they can do their thing,” she writes. Frank takes issue with 3- and 4-year-old lining up to go to the bathroom all together, being programmed so early to do life’s basic functions on a set schedule.
The playground gossip might imply that going to kindergarten without at least a year or two of preschool is a prescription for failure, but preschool is still considered optional. Experts estimate that 25 percent of all children don’t have a preschool experience at all before they start kindergarten.
There is little research that shows whether attending preschool or staying home with a parent makes any difference in how well kids do in school by secondary school. Any advantage a preschool child may have in kindergarten usually vanishes by second grade, experts say.
The Benefits of Preschool
There’s no question that preschool helps to gradually wean children away from their parents, something that may be beneficial with the rise of all-day kindergarten. Going from being at home with Mom all day to suddenly being in school 6½ hours a day may be a tough transition without the help of at least a short period of part-time preschool.
And sending a child to preschool for a couple of hours two or three days a week allows the stay-at-home parent some time to herself or to spend with younger children in the home.
What’s Right for Your Family
Experts agree there’s no one correct answer to the question, do children need preschool?
“It is a very personal decision to send your child to preschool. It is important that parents don't feel pressured about making the decision,” Davis and Keyser write.
The copyright of the article Is Preschool Necessary? in Stay-at-Home Parents is owned by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick. Permission to republish Is Preschool Necessary? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I would just like to pay for a potty train preschool that would potty train
my son. That would be so nice.
Dec 19, 2008 11:05 AM
Guest :
When we made the decision to stay at home with our 2 children there was a
wave of popular opinion to convince us not to do so as they would receive
extra learning at pre-school and....socialising. We found though that the
children were so happy at home and after a few months, we really found it
extremely rewarding and learned how to provide a well rounded educational
environment in a safe and warm setting. I would recommend this to anyone -
please consider this as an option when deciding pre-school care.
Dec 26, 2008 9:45 AM
Guest :
Well I must disagree that the only "cons" of having children go
to pre k are what is listed above. I am a full time mother, full time
student, and employed full time. Do I wish my children did not have to
attend daycare? Yes. Do I have the choice? No. I feel that my kids have
learned so much more at school from songs, to numbers and the alphabet. I
think I made a good decision. I have 2 friends with children the age of my
daughter, and my daughter knows to count to 10, her abcs and numerous
songs, while their kids are stay at home, and can only count to 3. I know
some people cannot put their children in daycare for whatever their
reasonings, however, I feel that my kids deserve the best life I can give
them which is why I work and go to school full time. However, my school
work waits until the kids are in bed because spending time with them is a
priority. I go to school to show them that education is important and work
to make sure they have money for what they need, and money for school etc.
So I feel daycare was a great choice for my kids and they love it.
Jan 14, 2009 9:58 PM
Guest :
I don't what kind of friends you hang around with, but I don't send my
child to preschool, and she knows how to count all the way up to 50, knows
a lot of colors, can draw and color very well, and can read. Guess what.
I didn't rely on OTHER people to teach her this, I can proudly say as a
SAHM, that *I* taught her. As far as socialization is concerned? That's a
lame argument. They get socialized by going to parks, playgroups,..what
have you.
Jan 14, 2009 10:00 PM
Guest :
How can you be a full time mom to your child when you work full time?
Jan 28, 2009 11:30 AM
Guest :
It is not the quantity of time spent with your child it is the quality. I
am a stay at home mother who use to teach elementary school. I think we
should support the choices that other women make and find ways to help each
other. It takes a village to raise a child. If you are categorizing
mothers for making choices that they feel are best then you need to take a
look at yourself. You will be teaching your child the same values. I came
to this site looking for advice from other mothers. What a shame...
Jan 28, 2009 12:06 PM
Diane Laney Fitzpatrick :
Since all the comments here are from anonymous "guests" it's hard
to determine who the most recent comment is referring and responding to. I
don't see anyone categorizing mothers for making choices that they feel are
best. We all make different choices for different reasons and based on
different lifestyles, values, and situations. If I've learned anything from
talking with stay-at-home and working moms, it's that there's no one right
answer.
Apr 21, 2009 10:50 AM
Guest :
There should not be a "right and a wrong" answer reguarding this
situation. It is entirely up to the parents and whatever is right for them
and their children. I am a stay at home mom and feel I'd like to have my
children home as long as possible and I've been teaching them from day one.
They are very bright, friendly and outgoing and I feel they don't need
preschool as a social club, so I feel strongly that for my children,
kindergarden as a starting point for school is just fine. Kids grow up way
too fast and have plenty of time to be social all throughout their lives.
May 20, 2009 6:33 PM
Guest :
I tend to disagree with a previous poster. My three year old can certainly
count, spell, knows colors, letters, etc. He also knows all the different
tools in the shed, helps with laundry, cooks lunch with me, planted a
garden, picks up the house, regularly visits the library, parks,humane
shelter, strawberry patch, zoo,museum, firestation, airport, pool, plays in
the yard with friends daily, and enjoys playgroups. So I am the preschool
and I definitely think it isn't quality only. It is quality and quantity
time you spend with them.
May 25, 2009 6:24 PM
Guest :
This whole concept of "quality time" is B.S. Quantity matters. It
implies priority.
Jun 3, 2009 8:33 PM
Guest :
A toddler who can count to 10 is no smarter or has no more headstart than a
child who can only count to 3. All children learn at their own pace and
learning to count to 10 at age 2 or 3 compared to learning it at age 4 or 5
is not important at all. Precious time and memories with your child
comfortably at home and the unique experiences that can only come from the
freedom of choosing what you will do with your child that day is priceless.
I will be keeping my babies with me until right before kindergarten with
some part time pre-k beforehand to help them adjust.
Jun 10, 2009 10:25 AM
Guest :
Be a parent and potty train your son yourself. Make the decision to stop
using diapers and put that kid in underwear. He'll learn very quickly to
pee in the toilet.
Jun 10, 2009 12:21 PM
Guest :
I really like your comments you posted on June 3, 09. I am definitely
leaning towards keeping my 3 year old at home until kindergarten.
Jul 31, 2009 1:21 PM
Guest :
I really think either way parents decide is beneficial by this I mean there
are pro and cons to both sides. I think parents need to look at the
individual child and family situation to decide what is best. Are there
benefits to sending children to pre-k? Yes as a future elemetary educator I
would agree. Should a parent feel that it is necessary to send them for
their child to succeed? No way.I have four children myself two girls who
did attend pre school a son who did not and a son who will be attending
this fall. The reasons I chose not to put my older son was because I knew
he was not ready for that type of enviroment. I felt he would benefit more
from a one on one type enviroment which I at thetime was fortunate enough
able to provide. Let me just say this in no way do I feel I made the wrong
decision for any of my children. my older daughters were very ready for a
change to attend school made them happy and confident in themselves. With
my younger son starting this fall I can see the excitement he gets when we
talk about him being a big boy and going to school, it seems to give him
confidence in himself. Just the same I am very glad I did not force my
older son to start at such a young age as he is now going into first grade
and is a very bright boy as said by his kindgergarten teacher. My point
being is this If you feel your child would benefit from an outside
education envirioment I say go for it. If you think it is better for them
to stay home with you do not let any one talk you into anything else! We as
parents know wht is the best for our children and our situation no matter
how many experts there are on the subject Good luck to all
Mar 27, 2008
