Online Preschool of All Shapes and Sizes

With almost three out of five toddlers being enrolled in preschool, more and more folks are realizing that preschool is often an important milestone in your little one’s life! One of the best parts of sending your little one to preschool nowadays is the plethora of options you have to choose from, like online preschool, online homeschool, homeschool preschool, and more. However, this plethora of choices can definitely make it tough to make a final decision. Never fear, though — Playgarden is here to help you make the choice that will fit the needs of you and your little one best! Though there are countless different types of preschool, we’ve chosen to explore six we think you might be interested in.

What To Expect

Before we delve into the different types of preschool that are available to you and your little one, it’s key to look into what you should expect from your child’s learning environment of choice! Here are some very common things to see in your child’s preschool curriculum (and how you can help them continue to learn at home using online preschool, homeschool preschool, online homeschool, or extracurricular activities):

1. Colors and Shapes: These are usually some of the first things little ones learn in online preschool! Learning the names and how to identify a wide variety of colors and shapes will help your little one build fundamental communication skills, and act as stepping stones for future online homeschool lessons in subjects like math. You can practice these skills at home with your little one as well by utilizing homeschool preschool lessons or even by playing games like “I spy”.
2. Sounds and Letters: Another important lesson little ones should learn in any preschool is how to recognize letter names and sounds! This is very valuable for written and spoken communication, and is something that is very useful to practice with your child at home. It’s also very easy to make practice a part of your daily routine — reading books, singing songs like the “ABC” song, and even letter-shaped refrigerator magnets are all great ways to incorporate what they’re learning at their online preschool into their home environment.
3. Numbers and Counting: This is one of the more challenging lessons preschool aged children tackle! However, learning the numbers, memorizing number orders, and eventually counting is a cornerstone for understanding STEM-related subjects in the future. Because of how difficult it tends to be for little ones to grasp this skillset, practicing at home outside of online homeschool is crucial to helping build that sturdy foundation. Count anything you can — from big stairs to small toys!
4. Arts Introduction: Art may not seem as important at surface level as other skills being learned during online preschool, but they are actually extremely helpful for your little one to develop fine motor skills and bodily coordination! Additionally, practicing arts and crafts in homeschool preschool will encourage creativity in your little one — something that can only help them as they get older.
5. Essential Lessons: Some lessons are not as visible as things like arithmetic or reading, but are equally valuable to your little one’s development! Active group participation, teamwork, sharing, and cooperation are just a few of the other important lessons your child should be learning by being a part of a preschool program.

Types of Preschools

Now that we’ve covered some of the lessons that your little one should be learning in their online, in-person, or homeschool preschool program, it’s time to take a look into some of the different options you have when selecting the preschool that will best fit the needs of you and your little one.

1. Microschool: Lots of parents have very specific requirements for the learning environment that they’ll place their little one in — which is fantastic! However, as a result, sometimes the available preschool options aren’t really what they’re looking for. If this sounds like you, microschool might be the choice for you! Also known as “learning pods”, such as those offered at Playgarden Prep, microschools usually operate in a similar fashion to homeschooling; the key difference is that microschools often involve many children. If you want, it can even be a sort of online homeschool; virtual platforms can help keep the learning going even in uncertain times like these. It’s a wonderful solution if you have a unique curriculum in mind and find like-minded parents who have the same goals for their little ones as you do!
2. Montessori: This is one of the most popular options in recent history (and is also the method used by Playgarden Prep as well as our online preschool program)! Using highly trained professionals, the Montessori method allows for your little one to tap into their natural curiosity about the world around them. There is increased time for play, during which the teachers will choose specific toys for whatever the educational goal is for the day. It’s a method that really makes learning fun, and has translated well to online preschool and homeschool preschool platforms, too!
3. Forest School: If you feel a strong connection with the natural world, forest school might be the option for you! Forest school is basically a learning experience that takes place entirely outside! Not all forest schools happen in the forest; beaches, rivers, mountains, or even backyards are also options that can be explored. It’s learning through play, similar to Montessori, but uses the natural world for examples a bit more, and is probably one of the only methods we’ve listed that would be a bit trickier to translate to an online preschool or online homeschool platform. For those of you who are city-dwellers, this option may be harder to come by in places with limited access to large areas of natural space!
4. STEM-Focused: Another type of preschool that’s gaining popularity is that of a specialized focus — specifically STEM-focused programs! If your child demonstrates a strong aptitude in math or the sciences, this is a fantastic option. In similar fashion to other preschool programs, STEM-focused preschools incorporate play and fun, but also begin to lay a foundation for coding and mathematical building. By choosing this type of schooling, a future for STEM learning is imbued!
5. Reggio Emilia: Not to be confused with the Montessori method, though the two programs do share a lot of similarities! Both types of schooling aim to teach your little one in unique ways, and both programs are also very much student-led, rather than having very authoritarian teachers. However, Reggio Emilia differentiates itself from the Montessori method in that it is more project-based in its learning goals. Students work in groups to carry out projects while teachers supervise and help them to learn the lessons of the day. If you want a method that combines learning with real-world application of skills, Reggio Emilia may be the option for you!
6. Traditional: Last, but certainly not the least, is traditional preschool! In traditional preschool settings, the format is more similar to that of the standard school system, only with a slightly looser structure and added playtime. The teaching methods for traditional preschool are a bit more formal than some of the other options we’ve listed, but don’t worry — your little one will still have bundles of fun getting to learn! If you’ve observed that your little one may benefit from a bit of extra structure in their learning, this is a wonderful choice, and can be accomplished in-person, through online preschool, or homeschool preschool!

We know that having a lot of options for both in-person and online preschool can be very overwhelming! It’s totally normal — it’s an important choice to make. However, the most important thing to remember is that nobody knows your little one quite like you do! Your knowledge of who they are, what they like, and how you think they learn best will be the most helpful tool in selecting the schooling that is right for them.

Try Our Online Homeschool for FREE! Playgarden Prep offers numerous educational videos from real teachers, and numerous DIY projects that support early learning and development through online homeschool and homeschool preschool.