Pros And Cons Of Preschool

Although most parents would agree that preschool is an important phase in the lives of their children, some, surprisingly, beg to differ. According to recent studies, a few parents would prefer to keep their little toddlers at home and shield them from the outer world for a ‘little longer’. Those not in favor of this opinion, believed that preschool was a necessary opportunity for their children to grow mentally and physically, in an independent atmosphere. Early childhood programs can prepare and provide the foundation required for a child’s future education and can also help in engaging them in age-appropriate experiences. Keeping the child away from home can be a daunting task for parents, but if they are working, it would be absolutely difficult to cart the children around while working at the same time. In this case, preschool could be considered as a good option. This educational experience can help build a child’s emotional range along with helping them learn at the same time. Parents can now breathe a sigh of relief as all preschools swear by providing a safe and reliable environment. From story-telling to early peer pressure, read on to know more on the pros and cons of preschool.

Preschool Advantages And Disadvantages 

Pros

Preschool is the perfect opportunity for children to socialize with others of their age, thereby helping them build social skills for later years. At an early stage, if parents or teachers notice that the child is not very sociable or tends to stay a recluse, certain solutions can be thought of and the problem can be rectified before it gets too late. This way, children engage, learn to talk and play amicably with others, while making friends and building relationships. This is an important social milestone for children as they can build their own toddler-network.

It may be extremely painful for the kids to leave parents behind at first, or vice versa. However, eventually, the child begins to adjust to the new environment and begins to develop relationships with others rather than just parents, such as the teacher and even the other students. It is here that children learn and build their own contacts and also learn to play and mingle sociably with others in a structured environment. Preschool provides a self-development environment for the children to grow and excel in, that ultimately culminates into an independent nature from very early on.

Preschool is more of an opportunities gateway for the toddler. The academic setting is not very laborious for the young ones, but it is the right stepping stone that can help children activate and build strong foundations for the future ‘school mode’. Preschool is a fun, learning period for children and is a move made by parents to build a strong base for their child’s future scholastic endeavors.  

For working parents, leaving the toddlers at preschool becomes rather necessary. Some parents find it extremely difficult to leave their child in the care of a nanny or a day-care centre. In this scenario, preschools are the saviors that help parents by shouldering their responsibility and also providing their kids with basic schooling. 

Cons

A few preschool programs and institutions can be very expensive and are responsible, in most cases, for a gaping hole in the parent’s bank accounts. This is a prime reason as to why some parents prefer to keep their children at home in order to avoid unnecessary expenses. Soaring preschool fees is one of the main reasons why parents prefer home-tutoring their kids in the initial years. However, they forget to factor the fact that preschools also educate kids in other aspects like sharing and self-confidence. Therefore, it is always advisable to research on the best option available, in terms of quality learning and affordable fees.

Kids spend a substantial amount of time at preschools that range from anywhere 5 to 8 hours. It could end up being hazardous in terms of long hours spent away from home, conflicts between children over toys, no parental supervision and, also, in terms of the objects or material that the children have to deal with while away from home. These are some of the aspects that parents have to think over before taking a stand as to whether they should admit their child to the preschool or not. Although most preschools provide a safe environment, a thorough research about the claims is a must before taking the final decision.

Children at the ages of 3 and 4 are not used to a new environment than the ones that they have been brought up in. With the increasing number of children enrolling at preschool, there is also an increase in the level of illnesses and diseases that spreads through one child to another. After all, how much does a 3 or 4 year old know about hygiene or wellness? By sharing toys, lunches or even just by playing with their classmates, kids may fall sick.

More than any other aspect, parents find the emotional ordeal of being separated from the child, a very tense one. The child is also suddenly exposed to a new environment without the protection or the shield provided by parents. As a result, parents get emotional while children, in most cases, cry when left at the school.

 

All tiny tots require attention from very early on, and in early childhood programs, this is more of a distant possibility. With many kids to take care of, teachers or caretakers find it increasingly difficult to provide one-on-one attention to children. In this case, teachers may end up providing lesser attention per child, giving lesser opportunities for children to grow individually.