DISCOVER
PR ES C H OOL VS. CHILDCAR E What is the Best Option for Your Family? Written by Ginger Ashby, Principal of Thelma B. Johnson Early Learning Center
Research is clear that students who can attend a high-quality program are more prepared for kindergarten. Finding the best option for your child takes time and research. Children gain a lot from attending preschool. Preschool provides exposure pre-academics like numbers, letters and shapes. But, most important, children learn how to socialize, get along with others, share, take turns and contribute to a group conversation. Every child should have some type of group experience before entering kindergarten. Gymnastics, dance, sports are great, but what preschool does that is not taught in those mentioned is teach kids how to be students. Your child needs to learn how to line up, travel in the hallway, raise his/ her hand, take a turn, and share an adult’s attention. What’s more is the student learns they can be successful upon separation from their parent or caregiver. The importance of giving kids some form of quality; early childhood education is so recognized that 39 states now have state funded preschool programs. When it comes to preschool vs. childcare, every family has unique needs that they need to be addressed for the benefit of their child. Every child is unique and so is their development. Children’s programs are not one size fits all. In the first five years of life, the brain is constantly growing and developing; children are learning new things all the time. In fact, this is the time of a person’s life when the brain develops the most, which is why positive experiences are so important. These formative years are critical for every individual child meeting the milestones that they need to prosper. Parents know their children the best, and they know what their children need in order to thrive. It is up to the program, whether it be childcare or preschool, to provide just that. The words “preschool” and “daycare” or 42
HENDERSON FAMILY . April // May 2022
“childcare” may be used interchangeably
hours of the day. It focuses much more
among parents, but this is actually
on games and free play than a preschool
incorrect.
great
does. Babies, toddlers, and children have
advantages to children, it is important
While
both
offer
a safe and secure place to go where they
to understand the difference between
will receive daily necessities such as
preschool vs. childcare in order to make
feeding, napping, and activities. Although
a choice that best suits the needs of your
people may not think kids are learning at
child. One of the most notable differences in the ages of the kids that attend either program. Childcare programs typically accept children in the age range of about 6 weeks and older, while preschool is typically for children ages 2-5 years of age. In a preschool program, learning preacademic skills is the main objective, with
childcare, they in fact are. Every child deserves the best possible care, so it is expected that parents will have questions when they are considering preschool vs. childcare. Parents can rest assured that licensing is required for both preschool and childcare, so their children
the program focusing on the educational
are being as well taken care of as possible
needs of the children in order to prepare
no matter which program they choose.
them for development in the years that
Staff are trained and qualified in order to
follow.
deal with all the different situations that
For the most part, childcare is about
arise, and as any adult who has ever been
providing services to parents when they
in the presence of kids knows, no two days
need it most — during the working
are alike!
