As a parent, one of the early decisions you're going to have to make is whether or not to send your child to preschool. In most states, preschool isn't mandatory, so it's entirely at your discretion. However, before you make the decision, it's important that you understand why preschool is so beneficial for kids. Here are a few of the many reasons why you should consider sending your child to preschool when they are eligible.

Preschool Builds An Early Social And Emotional Foundation

You may feel like you don't want to send your child to preschool because you feel that it's too early to start worrying about academics for your child. Preschool ages are, in fact, pretty early for academic focus. However, preschool is less about academic progress and more about social and emotional growth in preparation for kindergarten. 

Children in preschool learn about moderating their own behaviors and emotions, empathy for other children, following directions in a distracting environment, and other similar skills. This sets a strong foundation for kids before they enter kindergarten so that they are better prepared for the structure, the social interaction, and the emotional regulation.

Preschool Provides Early Structure

From an outside glance, many preschool classrooms look a bit like organized chaos. The organized component, though, is an important one. You may not realize it, and your child may not even realize it, but preschool classrooms are actually structured. Children are provided with the opportunity to make their own decisions, but within a predetermined, structured atmosphere that is an important environment at this stage in their overall development.

Preschool Encourages Motor Skill Development

The play opportunities, creative lessons, crafts, and sensory stations provided at preschool, in addition to the outdoor playgrounds and physical education, all work together to help encourage motor skill development for your child. Many children in preschool are introduced to new motor skills that they haven't learned in the past from sensory tables, oversized building blocks, preschool playgrounds, and play mats.

Preschool Helps Children Become Kindergarten-Ready

The requirements for kindergarten preparation vary from generation to generation, and kindergarten academics are becoming more demanding. Children are encouraged to know how to write the alphabet and their names, recognize the alphabet and know letter sounds, and know their numbers up to 10 before they start kindergarten. Color recognition, shape identification, and more are also part of kindergarten readiness. Preschool will help build this foundation so that you can be confident that your child is ready to start kindergarten when they are eligible.

Talk with a preschool in your area to see if it's a good fit for your child. The more you understand, the easier it is to see how preschool helps young kids.