Preschool education requirements are not the same for every state. While some states have specific guidelines, many states do not set mandatory guidelines for preschool education. A frequent question asked among child care providers and stay-at-home parents is: “Should I use a preschool curriculum?” Here are 4 benefits you’ll notice right away, from my experience as a provider.
Enhanced Structure![Circle time](https://d1fya2euflkbt0.cloudfront.net/images/blog/2016-03-circle-time.jpg)
When I first opened my child care, I had only three children and they were all under the age of 2. As the children became more comfortable in my setting, I noticed frequent boredom and tension among them. After several months, it became apparent that we all needed some structure in our day. I ordered a kit from FunShine Express® to see if the activities would help break up our day. What a dramatic difference! Within a week, I noticed that the children stayed engaged, I felt like we were all enjoying new topics, and as a perk for me—time seemed to go by much more quickly!
Time-Saving![Curriculum Guide Layout](https://d1fya2euflkbt0.cloudfront.net/images/blog/2016-03-curriculum-guide-layout.png)
One thing that became immediately evident to me was how much work the curriculum saved me. Although I have a degree in child development, it was time-consuming to find new and fresh alphabet, color, number, and general activities each month. With FunShine, I was able to go right to the guide for easy-to-complete activities. I also began to see the benefits of having a theme. The kids responded well to the songs, and it allowed me to introduce many unfamiliar materials and new vocabulary words.
Family Engagement![Family Newsletter](https://d1fya2euflkbt0.cloudfront.net/images/blog/2016-03-family-newsletter.png)
I think one of my favorite things about using a curriculum was the positive reaction I received from parents. Their kids were discussing theme-related topics at the dinner table, and my walls were soon filled with fun theme-related pictures for them to observe. Occasionally I would even have a parent approach me with an item related to our current theme, asking if I would like to borrow it. This reminded me how beneficial it is to include families in themes, especially those involving job-related or cultural topics. Monthly newsletters kept them in the loop about what their children were learning.
Professionalism![Sept 22 FF](https://d1fya2euflkbt0.cloudfront.net/images/blog/2016-03-sept-22-ff.png)
Having predesigned cutouts on brightly colored displays made the walls of my setting look more professional and appealing. While curriculum costs did stretch my budget, I noticed that the families in my setting really began spreading the word of how much they enjoyed my preschool, so I often had a waiting list. Most families are willing to pay a bit more for child care that includes preschool education as well.
Overall, I considered the curriculum to be one of the greatest enhancements to my child care! FunShine Express offers a Buttercups curriculum for children ages 0-3 and a Fireflies curriculum for children ages 3-5. If you do not have a curriculum or you would like more information about FunShine Express, call 1(800)340-8103 or visit funshineexpress.com.
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