What do toddlers really learn in preschool? How important is it to have them start preschool before 3 yrs old?

I can't afford preschool for my almost 2 year old son unless I stay on the welfare to work program which is a huge hassle to stay in as there is so much paperwork involved. The closest head start to my house doesn't start until the child is 2 years 9 months. So my dilemna is what to do with my son until then. How crucial is preschool before they turn 3?

Public Comments

1. Good for you. This is a real life question. In my opinion (I am just a dad and grandpa) even though kids do benefit from the 9 months you are talking about, it is not vital to their turning out to be good humans, or to doing well in school. On the other hand, if putting him in school is going to make you anxious or upset, he will pick up on that. So hold off until you can put him in Head Start. If you are calm & happy, he will be too. The best thing you can do for your son is read to him. Do it at least once a day, more often if you can. The more you read to him, the easier it will be for him to learn to read, and do well in school. My kids both learned to read around age 4, so by the time they got to kindergarten, they were already ahead of the game.


2. If you are going to be spending time with him, it's ok, sometimes the rush into getting them into preschool is due to mom and dad work.

   If you have the time, paint with him, specially with your fingers, it's something that helps him to develop the sensibility of his nerves.

   Listen to music, and read, you can make like a little schedule with a couple of hours of training.

   There are activity books that have a lot of exercises toddlers can do.

   Good Luck,



3. there is VERY LITTLE long-lasting benefits of preschool before age 4. and some kids learn to be aggressive when starting school as an infant or toddler. Some kids do enjoy a part time program at age three. If you do not need to work, enjoy your child's early years. Take him to the park, read books, go to the library. check out programs through your local parks and recreation department in your city. Keep a consistent schedule through the day so he learns a routine. Have him help you with chores around the house. Play iSpy when you go on a walk. There is so much you can do at home to provide an enriching home environment, with benefits far outlasting anything he could get in school at this age.


4. My daughter is now 4 1/2, and she went to daycare/preschool the first 3 years of life. I have been a stay at home mom for the past year & a half or so, and the advances she has made are undeniable. She has grown about 6 inches in the past year and really grown a lot as far as her speech and learning, etc, also. I think the most important thing for children this young is how much one on one time they get, and at a preschool or daycare it is obviously much less than being with parents or a home childcare.


5. as long as you are spending the time with your child teaching them the basics and bringing them out to the park here and there for their social skills i personally dont think its crucial to HAVE your child start preschool. There are children who don't even go to daycare and go straight to school and they do just fine. I wouldn't worry too much


6. Preschool before the age of three is beneficial to some. However most of the skills taught at preschool for 3 and under are social skills. When a child enters Kindergarten they are expected to walk quietly in a line, , share/take turns, raise their hand when they need to speak, voice their needs, etc. Most of the kids who have been in daycare/preschool already have most of these skills and the Kindergarten teacher can spend more time teaching rather than keeping her students quiet and orderly.


7. they learn the basic stuff like how to write there name, manners ect and its very important as your child will be around other children which is really good for there development


8. Preschool is not "crucial" at all. Studies have shown that kids who attend preschool do better in their later years of schooling. But - if you socialize your child through other means - and work with them at home to learn their numbers, letters, cut with a scissors - etc. - and give them a keen understanding of following directions and going with a plan - they will be fine without preschool.

   As a preschool teacher, I will say that preschool is a wonderful experience for children, and it's much easier for many parents to allow trained teachers to do these things for their children. But, if parents are willing to do these things themselves, a preschool experience is certainly not necessary in order for your child to do well in school.

   Preschool is NOT crucial before 3 at all. In fact, there's not much the schools can do for them prior to that age.