Saying No to Preschool?

Not all parents plan to send their preschoolers on to school. For many the decision to instead keep their young children home is what is right for their family. Whether it is because they feel their child is not yet ready, there is no adequate preschool services available to them, or they plan to home school, choosing to educate their children themselves is a decision that can be difficult to make. If you are planning on saying no to preschool here are some things you can do to ease the worry that your preschooler might fall behind.

Academics is the first area that many parents worry about, and there are an endless number of programs and books that feed off that fear. Some parents fear that they need to begin teaching their preschooler how to read, write, count, and more the moment they turn old enough. David Elkind in his book Miseducation : PRESCHOOLERS AT RISK that trying to do too much too early can actually be more harmful. For young children fun and play should be their only educational tools. Spend as much time as you can reading books, playing games, exploring nature, and following yourpreschooler's lead. Preschool aged children are naturally very curious. Take the time to answer their many questions, looking up information that you might not know. Talk often, explain things that you see and do in your daily routine. And spend as much time as you can reading, everything from books to signs to boxes. If you can do these simple things your preschooler will gain the knowledge and skills that they would have in a more formal school setting.

Socialization is another worry that some parents of preschoolers have. School is a group event, where the children have contact with other children during the day. This does not mean however that there are no great opportunities for young children to socialize and have fun. Chances are your child has already done a fair amount of socializing long before school began. Playgroups, church activities, the park, even just moments in stores can all provide many chances for young children to interact with other children. Socialization is just the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding about the culture we live in. Children as young as preschool should be receiving much of their socialization from adults who can show them how our culture interacts socially in acceptable ways. As long as you give your preschooler opportunities to interact with other people you can be sure they will be learning how to socialize.

(Image source - carlosluis )