ZombieSquirrel

I understand that this thread is quite old and the parent debating the particular issue has since seen the child progress through school.

I do not have children, but I am involved with early education advocacy. (In the state of Ohio.) Of course I am mostly an advocate for the children who fall through the cracks, but all children benefit from quality care. The parents who are visiting this thread are very proactive in their child/ren's academic and developmental success. That's good parenting. An excellent education starts at home. There are PLENTY of resources out there for parents who choose to keep their children at home.

I do think it's a personal choice for parents to decide whether or not their child attends a Pre-K program. I think it's something between 60-70% of children under the age of 6 are in some sort of "out of home care." It varies greatly though as I believe that statistic includes relatives who babysit.

There are higher expectations on children before they enter Kindergarten these days. (I know, I know...let a kid be a kid.) The field isn't the "daycare/babysitter" stereotype that it once was. It is becoming a highly regarded educational field as this is the beginning of an educational pipeline. If a child is ready to learn before they enter Kindergarten they will have a more successful academic career for not having to play catch up.

If you do choose to send your child to preschool, please make sure to research the standards of care in your area. There are 16 states in the US with quality measuring programs for early care and education centers. Ohio is one. For parents debating this issue, I suggest researching the centers around you. Ask about classroom ratios and what sort of quality metrics are in place. Be THAT parent. I know I will.

So yeah, you don't have to listen to me since I don't have children, but I am ingrained in this work. Personally, when I unleash offspring out in this world I will place him or her in a pre-k program. I will be taking advantage of every opportunity.

I could go on and on and on and on about this, but I won't.

Thank you parents for all that you do for our future!!

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