The Federal Government sponsored daycare for 400,000 preschool children. Nowadays, the government might not sponsor as many children, but parents will still want to enroll their kids in a preschool programs because studies have shown that children who attend them might be 24 percent more likely to go to a four year college. Parents have many options when it comes to make sure that their young kids are properly cared for during the days that they have to go to work, and there might not be one plan that is right for every family. However, for many, preschool is the best option.

One of the main things that parents might look for when it comes to child care is giving their kid a head start on their education. Though the main benefit of day care programs is that they allow kids to socialize with others, some academic learning will actually take place in preschools. Those types of places might be the best option for some parents because children who receive a high quality education in their early childhood are more likely to have a job and own a home, and earn at least $5,000 more every year than a peer who did not receive an education before kindergarten. So while education might not be the priority for every parent when it comes to preschool, if there are multiple places that parents are considering, the one that offers the best education program might be the top choice.

Most parents will want to make sure that their kids have every advantage possible and give them every opportunity to become successful adults. In order to do that, they might want to enroll them in a great preschool program because, according to a study of low income children in Chicago, those who went to preschool were 28 percent less likely to develop drug or alcohol problems or end up in jail as an adult, than children who did not. So the right day care programs are a great tool for parents who want to give their children every resource needed to succeed.

Unfortunately, one of the major obstacles that parents might face when trying to find the right preschool is cost. While certain programs are subsidized and easily affordable, many, especially the top tier programs, are costly. Though this is unfortunate, it is a reality that many parents have to deal with, and many will find a program that they believe their children will thrive in only to find that they are unable to afford it. So one of the biggest challenges for parents is finding a balance between programs that offer a lot for children and that are cost effective.