For many parents, the decision to send their children to preschool is one based on concern, or necessity. Parents may not feel they can engage their child or offer them what they need if they leave them home until Kindergarten. Some parents simply do not have the time due to work constraints, or other obligations.
If you have been on the fence about sending your child to preschool, then this post is for you. We are going to break down what preschool looks like at home, and what it may look like at a center. We are also going to look at some of the pros and cons of both. These posts will be done in 3 parts. Today we are going to look at the pros and cons of center based preschool.
What are the Pros and Cons of Center Based Preschool?
If a child is already in a large daycare center due to the parent needing to work full time, then a center based preschool will be a great option for you. If a parent feels the need some time to themselves on a regular basis then center based preschool is a good option. It will free up time to run errands, get a part time job or tend to younger children.
Children who attend preschool tend to have an academic benefit over their peers in the early elementary years. Studies show children have better listening skills, and their Math and Language scores are higher than those children who did not attend preschool. However, these benefits tend to die down at or around 3rd grade. Some studies have also found that children from middle class familes have little to no acadmic benefit from preschool.
The child will already be used or better able to deal with the separation from the parent when they start Kindergarten. Children will learn valuable skills like how to wait in line, take turns and how to interact with other children. They will also be more ready to sit still for formal learning in Kindergarten.
One of the biggest cons for many parents is time. Trying to get little ones out the door and to school at a certain time each day can be exhausting. Also, you are tied down to a school schedule already and the child is only 3. Not choosing preschool allows more free time for you and for your child.
These are a few of the pros and cons of center based preschool. Next week we will look at the pros and cons of home based preschool, followed by the third post breaking down what preschool looks like in both options.
For more on this topic check out the other posts in this series:
Part 2: A look into center based preschool
Part 3: What does Preschool look like?
photo credit: drpavloff via photopin cc
