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[quote=Anonymous]There are three main reasons preschool is important -- from least to most (in my opinion):

1) academic
2) listening/following instructions
3) social & self-regulation

I think you could get 1) easily from a nanny, and in any case it is not appropriate to over emphasize academic learning at this age. 2) you could get if your child does any kind of structured activity regularly -- music, dance, gymnastics, etc. If your nanny is good, she'll know how to help your child practice this in appropriate ways in different settings.

What a good preschool will do is structure the environment so that the child becomes increasingly responsible for their own activities, initiating purposeful activity independently and developing the inner discipline and focus to see their projects through. They will also support social interactions so your child learns to cooperate with others, build on their ideas, and navigate various kinds of peer experiences. I think that's something that will be hard to replicate in a home environment or small group just because it depends on having a space set up that is centered on the child -- child sized sinks and tables, child work/play materials, appropriate jobs such as cleaning or serving snack -- and also a number of peers that your child interacts with regularly and develops relationships with.

Personally I feel like most kids could benefit from something like this by 3-4. With a one-on-one adult caregiver, the issue is that the child might be catered to too much or might not be given the proper responsibility and autonomy. [/quote]

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