For some, the decision to send your child to preschool can be agonizing. How do you know when your child is ready? Will your child gain anything from a preschool program? Whether you have already answered these questions or not, one thing is certain, parents who send their children to preschool have already made a decision to invest in their future.

READY OR NOT?
There are a few sure-fire ways to tell if your child is ready for the preschool experience. Age is not always the factor to consider. Some of the most important indicators have to do with your child’s independence. Are they toilet trained? Can they change their own clothing? Are they comfortable being away from their parents? Can they go 4 hours without napping?
Some of the other ways to gauge if your child is ready for preschool have more to do with social skills. Does your child play well with others? Can they take turns and share? How does your child behave when being watched by others? Are they able to listen to a story without being disruptive?
Lastly, here are some things to consider that, while not as imperative as the aforementioned questions, are also things we actively practice in preschool in the spirit of preparing them for future years in the classroom. Is your child able to draw with a crayon or pencil? Is your child aware of or sensitive to other’s feelings? Can your child listen to and obey instructions? Recite their name, address, and telephone number? Resolve conflicts?
A parent considering preschool for their child and unsure of some of these questions should discuss it with the school's teacher or principal. The objective is to have a pleasant and productive educational environment as opposed to a distressing one for you or your child.

BENEFITS
One of my favorite news articles of last year came out in June, 2011. It was the results of a long-term study done in Chicago, Illinois, regarding the benefits of preschool. The benefits of preschool were measured over a 25-year period on 1,000 children involved in the Child-Parent Education Center Program in that area. While it’s true that the children were mostly from low-income or minority families, the findings most assuredly can be generalized over a wider population. Some of the advantages they found were that children who attend preschool;
- are more likely to attend and complete high school.
- are more likely to stay out of jail.
- are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.
- are more likely to attend a 4-year college.
- are more likely to earn a higher annual adult income.
- are less likely to be on public assistance as adults.

The results are not surprising to me at all. Along with learning to care and share and get along with others, the academic benefits of preschool can instill a love of learning and nurture your child’s natural curiosity, transforming them into life-long learners. Those who are educated have the power to abolish ignorance and adversity. The decision for parents to place their child in a preschool program to begin with will turn out to be an investment, not only for their child’s future, but also for society’s future.