Preschool: At What Cost? Paperback – April 11, 2011

Great book to help families choose the best preparation for school readiness. Great evidence based information.

Preschool:At What CostSusan K. StewartPublished by Practical InspirationsP.O. Box 561Luling, TX 78648[...]ISBN 978-0-976739429-486 pp. e-book or pdf, Plus internet and print resourcesSusan K. Stewart's book, Preschool: At What Cost should be read by every parent and grand-parent of pre-kindergarten children. She presents balanced, well-researched information about the failure for long-term positive results from academic instructions to preschoolers by government and private organizations. She gives data that shows children this young do far better with self-directed, imaginative play and the security of parental involvement in their lives.The book is clearly written and easy to read. The author lists research studies at the end of each chapter plus web and print resources at the end of the book. Chapters include a history of preschools (both kindergarten, nursery and government schools such as Head Start), the Real Numbers, What Experts Say, and the Politics of Preschool academic Education.Then Stewart has several chapters on what parents can do and why. Too many parents have been influenced by the media to think they're failing their children if not enrolled in a preschool that teaches reading and math and such `school-type' subjects as young as possible. Stewart shows that the real need of young children is to develop character, imaginative thinking, socialization, truths about God and good manners. Research proves that all these contribute far more to long-range success.

These days it seems like all 3 and 4 year olds are in a formal preschool program. Have we ended up sending a message to the parents of those precious little ones that they are unable to provide all that their children need? Even programs that only meet several mornings per week convince parents that their children will lack important academic and social skills if they don't leave home on a regular basis.In this book, Susan Stewart summarizes the history of the preschool movement and includes research which clearly demonstrates that attendance in a formal preschool program is not required in order to produce a well-educated, socialized adult 12-15 years later. In fact, some programs actually produce the opposite results of that which were intended.If you want to keep your children home to cuddle and grow alongside you, this book will provide the statistics and logic you might need to convince well-meaning friends and relatives that you aren't ruining them. This book is well documented and includes many links and resources for further study. It is well worth the read for the parent of every 2-5 year old!

I remember the day my husband came home minutes after leaving for work and said you will not believe what I just heard on the radio. It was a First Five commercial claiming that if a child did not attend preschool he had a good chance of ending up in prison. Sue Stewart's new book, Preschool: At What Cost? deals with this kind of message and the resultant fears of young parents who want the very best for their children.The book begins with an overview of the history of preschool, including the philosophy behind each development. Subsequent chapters deal with statistics, from both pro-preschool positions and anti-preschool positions. The book shows the economic aspect of preschool as childcare as the main reason for providing preschool. Then Sue tackles the political agenda for preschool, showing the connections to the economic aspect, the cultural changes to accepting preschool as a norm, and the newer academic angle.In the last chapters of the book Mrs. Stewart discusses biblical examples and suppositions on parenting young children and then discusses the need to allow children to just play, and to give good character training at home. She assures parents, and I agree, that this provides children with the best start. A favorite statistic, available in our daily newspapers as well as this book, shows that children who have been in academically competitive preschools, with consequent high academic scores, do not continue to be competitive and are actually statistically below average in test scores by fourth grade.Preschool: At What Cost? presents reasons for keeping small children at home with their parents. For those who have concerns or fears and need to investigate options, the book lists all references at the end of each chapter for further research. This is an exceptional aspect of the book. It also includes lists of resources, both on the web and in print, for parents to use with their children at home. This scholarly look at the early years is reminiscent of books such as The Right Choice by Christopher Klicka, or Homeschooled and Now Adults by Dr. Brian Ray, both of which questioning parents may also want to read. Sue Stewart's new book presents statistics of which we all need to be aware, especially those in leadership. Preschool: At What Cost? is not just a book about preschool.