The problem with the “times changing” is that children have not changed. You simply cannot rush their development to meet “today’s standards” or to push them along faster than they can physically, emotionally, or cognitively develop. Kids are still kids and they still need ample time to develop and grow on their own, without the stringent academic pressures of rigid (and long) school days. That is a fact, and that is why it has often been done this way for centuries. Because it’s child development 101. I have researched this and it is one of the main reasons I am choosing to homeschool and to make it much more relaxed. I still believe most children do NOT need a, what is now considered, traditional preschool experience in order to succeed. There is NOT data out there to support that it makes a difference long-term in their academics. Yes, it helps them get used to school, but that’s about it. School and learning are two different things.

Thanks so much for your comment! There are definitely benefits of a preschool and alternatives.

I agree that a lot of children can be taught at home, and the life skills they will learn from their parents are of more worth. On the flip side, some children do need preschool. My oldest child was painfully shy at that age and the co-op preschool helped challenge and push her past that. My kids knew their academics, but they needed a little help socially. My next child was Autistic and he had several Autistic tendencies that were worked through in his Special Ed Preschool. I was not trained like they were, and we made great strides by putting him in early so he would be caught up by the time official school had started. We wanted to close that gap and preschool absolutely helped. My 3rd child had separation anxiety and preschool was a stepping stone to Kindergarten.
I’ve since become a preschool teacher and there are aspects of preschool that help each child, but I’ve had one particular child with some type of sensory issues that really needed it. It has taken her 1 1/2 years to get her to the point where she no longer gets overwhelmed physically. She still has a long way to go. Her parents and I are worried about Kindergarten, but it would have been an absolute train wreck with school if she had skipped preschool. Anyway, I know you aren’t saying preschool is not of value.
There really is so much more to preschool than just the academics and sitting and listening to a teacher. Where I live, the kids do full day kindergarten, but only every other day. I intentionally have them go to Kindergarten on my off days so they can go to my preschool their kindergarten year. I feel that it gives them a complete education experience. Public school feels so much like listening to a teacher and work sheets. At preschool they get free play, field trips, in house visits from professionals like Veterinarians, and Dental Hygienists. They get science and see how things grow and change and they learn about the earth and the world around them, they get so many themes, like the Human Body, Transportation, Dinosaurs, Fire Safety, Insects (viewed live), ect. They get to paint and get messy and and construct with recycled material. They get to learn how to work together and problem solve as a group.
You can provide most of those opportunities, but sometimes parents get stuck and don’t have the desire to provide extra exploration. In a few years I will be done as a preschool teacher. My kids have a kidney disease and I will need to homeschool them as they will not be able to maintain attendance when they get too sick.

A great alternative to parents is to offer a trade for a local preschool teacher. I offer free preschool for a trade in services. I have 2 people that teach my kids the piano and one that teaches my daughter violin. I would be up for other trades as well. Find something you can offer and trade services. Then it is the best of both worlds, the kids get these amazing opportunities, and it is free! Co op preschool can be a great option as well, but preschool isn’t just about sitting and listening to a person talk who isn’t a family member learning basics.

Thanks for your comment Kim! I do think many children can learn a lot from a traditional preschool, especially in the way you’ve described. It really is a “pre” school in that it gets them ready for (often) all day kindergarten, where they have to listen to someone else ALL day long, someone who isn’t their parent (who may have more patience with certain antics). And learning things like raising hands, ask for help, etc. are all valuable for school settings. I would argue that these types of “school practices” are what a lot of preschool is designed to help the kids understand. And that can be a very good thing. I guess, as I plan to homeschool, it doesn’t seem these things as important for our family.

Thankfully, my kids go to Sunday school every Sunday for two hours, with another adult, that they have to listen to, as well as are watched by others occasionally, and I take them to childare at places like the gym.