By Guest Author
So you’ve decided that you will not be sending your child to preschool. There are any number of reasons you may have reached this decision. In today’s economy, the cost of preschool can be prohibitive. For some parents, the idea of their child spending so much time away from home is a determining factor. Whatever your reasons for deciding to forego preschool, you may be wondering whether you are also giving up some of the developmental benefits. Well, fear not. With just a little effort, you can provide the academic and social benefits of preschool without committing to the entire preschool experience.
Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
Find groups. Some of the most significant aspects of preschool have nothing to do with academics. For many children, preschool is their first opportunity to join a group. They learn to interact with others, to cooperate and to take turns. You can recreate this group experience by finding group activities at your local library, bookstore or community center. Activities may range from puppet making to science experiments. Make a habit of taking your child to these activities. By attending a variety of different types of activities, instead of the same, old story hour, you will ensure that your child experiences activities that help him develop socially, mentally and physically. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with story hour!
Find friends.
Chances are that you are not alone in your decision to skip preschool More than 1.5 million students are homeschooled in kindergarten through grade 12, according to a report by the Department of Education. Given those numbers, it is likely that at least a few parents in your area have decided to take on their child’s preschool education. Ask around among your friends; ask when you go to story hour or other activities; ask at the playground. Take turns hosting group play dates. For children, games with other children develop key social skills. In addition, being separated from you for a few hours in a safe context will develop independence.
Use commercial products.
The academic aspects of preschool are probably the easiest gap to fill. Whether you use commercially produced workbooks or a variety of preschool educational games, you can more than adequately cover the basic knowledge and skills that any preschool would deliver. If you are looking for a more systematic and comprehensive way to ensure that you present all the basics, there are many sites for preschool online that provide systematic, comprehensive coverage of a preschool curriculum.
If you have decided that preschool is not for you, you can use these suggestions to provide experiences that ensure your child gets the benefits of preschool without having to actually go to school.
Jessica writes about a wide variety of topics. She especially enjoys writing about education. You can learn more about preschool educational games at http://www.abcmouse.com/
