What Is A Preschool?

(The Definition Below Does Not Include Child Care Centers W/Preschool) Preschools or nursery schools are educational programs available on apart-time basis, usually for two to three hours, morning or afternoon, from two to five days a week. They do not attempt to provide comprehensive childcare for parents who cannot spend working days with their children. Preschools provide programs that usually concentrate on social, emotional, and intellectual development and assume that parents or other providers will be able to provide for the child's health, nutrition, and other needs. Meals are not provided at preschool. Snacks are either provided or brought from home. Some child care centers provide a half day preschool program for three to five year olds. Some parents who require regular full child care arrange for their children to attend preschool for part of the day and a child care center or family child care home for the remainder of the day. This can be difficult to arrange. Preschools ...  more