#1 is demographics. The norm used to be the traditional nuclear family with the dad as breadwinner and the mom as full-time homemaker. Today, that’s become pretty unusual in many areas of the country. There are a lot more divorced and never-married parents, and even those who are married tend to be both employed full-time outside the home. The need for childcare is probably the biggest factor driving preschool enrollment.

The second factor driving preschool enrollment among even families with a stay-at-home parent is the idea of there being a “critical learning period” in early childhood. You see this with the popularity of all the Baby Einstein videos, LeapFrog electronic gadgets, Jr. Kumon workbooks, etc. There’s this fear among parents my age that kids who don’t receive early academics will wind up permanently “behind the curve”. Which is, of course, nonsense but when everyone in your social circle has bought into this belief it can be difficult to be the odd one out.

Barb the E.G., I do think it was a lot less stressful when preschool was an option (instead of something the govt. now wants to make mandatory) and only half-days, so the kids could have a life.

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