So I wanted to cover this subject again for all of you who are new to MommyMaestra, and as a refresher for those who have some idea about the importance of preschool but haven't needed those resources until now.
Why preschool matters
First of all, I want to stress the importance of preschool. Research shows that children who attend a good preschool and have involved parents are more likely to have better self-esteem, higher IQs, and fewer behavioral problems. They have higher literacy rates, test scores, and graduation rates. They are also less likely to repeat a grade level, smoke, drop out, or experience teen pregnancy.
And remember that the goal of preschool is to prepare your child for kindergarten. Latinos especially need to pay close attention to this as many of our children are starting school already behind, and must struggle to catch up. Sadly, some never do.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT CHILDREN WHO DO NOT ATTEND A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PRESCHOOL ARE DOOMED TO FAIL.
Homeschool Preschool
Children who are kept home until kindergarten (or who homeschool), can begin their academic life just as prepared as their preschooled counterparts...PROVIDED that their parents (this means YOU!) work with them at home.
Okay. So let's say that you are that parent. You are committed to your child's education 100% and you've decided for whatever reason that you want to work with your preschooler at home instead of sending them to a preschool program. Now what do you do?
FIRST, felicidades! This is such an exciting time for you and your child. They are a beautiful vase waiting to be filled with the flowers of knowledge. This is your chance to set the foundation and make learning a lifelong addiction for your child.
SECOND, RELAX. This is so easy - and fun - for you and your child. I have a lot of resources on this blog. All you have to do is type in "preschool" in my search bar, or click on the preschool tag at the end of this post. Lots of great products out there that I continue to discover. But I'm going to go ahead and list some of them here. I am including Spanish/bilingual resources for those of you who want to teach your child in Spanish.
If you have ANY questions, por favor, don't hesitate to ask in a comment here on this post, or by contacting me directly.
Helpful Preschool Resources
Should You Purchase a Preschool Curriculum?
Q & A: Should I Homeschool My Preschooler In Spanish, English, or Both?
Everyday Activities That Teach Your Preschooler
More on Homeschooling Your Preschooler
Bilingual Preschool Planner {Free Download}
Happy teaching!