For many parents, finding childcare is a must here in the United States, especially since many families rely on two incomes in order to stay afloat and comfortable financially. For many people, working is not an option – and still many more find that they feel fulfilled by and happy with their work, which means that they are unlikely to want to leave it because of parenthood. And the statistics that have been gathered on the subject more than back this up, showing that up to 67% of children with mothers working full time or even just part time were enrolled in a center daycare or preschool program. In addition to this, the employment of preschool teachers is expected to rise immensely between the years of 2016 and 2026 – some estimates put this growth at as much as 10%.
Of course, there are many different daycare programs out there for parents to choose from. The half day preschool program is quite common, as the half day preschool program allows a child to get used to being in a more structured space. This can be particularly important if the child in question has never been in such a setting before. In addition to the half day preschool program, summer camp programs are also common, and range from partial day to even full day, depending on the program in particular that you look into.
And even if one parent stays at home, sending your child to at least a half day preschool program can still be immensely beneficial. For instance, a half day preschool program can help children to begin to interact with other kids their own age on a more regular basis, helping them to develop the social skills that will crucial later on in life. Preschool games, common in any given preschool setting, will also be beneficial, promotion fun and learning at the same time. If anything, a half day preschool program will just help to get them ready for elementary school in a few years time, something that can make the transition to being in school all day that much easier.
Of course, the half day preschool program is far from the only option for children of a preschool age here in the United States. In addition to the half day preschool program, full days of preschool are also quite common. As a matter of fact, up to 51% of all children who are currently attending preschool are in full days. This might be because they like it or because they have working parents, but preschool environments are a great place for any given child to be, as they are both safe and nurturing of development.
Of course, summer camp programs can provide the same structure for preschool kids and older aged kids alike. Summer camp programs are often full of fun activities – and can even improve self confidence among many a child. The data gathered on the subject more than backs this up, showing that more than 90% of all children who attended some kind of summer camp program found that they felt better about themselves by the end of it – and that the summer camp itself was instrumental in that process. Summer camps come in all shapes and sizes as well, and are often specialized on certain topics, such as that of the typical sports summer camp or science summer camp. Such specialized camps can engage even older kids with challenges that are appropriate to their age and overall developmental level as well.
At the end of the day, there is no denying that summer camp programs and preschool programs like can be hugely beneficial for just about every child out there. For most kids, even just a half day preschool program can be enough to give them a head start – and most kids very much enjoy going to their half day preschool program, for that matter. At the end of the day, attending some sort of preschool program is a necessity for many children with working parents. However, it is also often an enjoyable experience as well.