For most children, preschool is the dawn of education. Yet as a mainstream option, it's a fairly modern educational phenomenon. Preschool has gained in popularity as more and more women have entered the workforce over the last few decades. Because of this, some parents of preschool-aged children never attended preschool themselves. But even if you did go to preschool, it's likely that the memories are a bit fuzzy, leaving you with questions about what your child will encounter when he gets there.

Regardless of the type of preschool you choose for your child -- traditional or alternative -- there are certain things every child should be prepared to tackle. And you may be surprised to know that the steps to take in preparation for preschool shouldn't necessarily be academic.

Proud parents often boast to one another that Sally can already count to 10, knows her ABCs and writes her own name. The earlier the accomplishment, the better -- right?

Not so, say experts.

"Those are not necessarily good preschool tasks," says Judy Myers-Walls, associate professor of child development and family studies at Purdue University. "Numbers and all academic things come better in kindergarten and later. Kids can learn to recognize some of those things, but they really won't understand concepts until they're ready cognitively."

That means your child may or may not be ready to count at age 3. Experts in the field of early childhood education debate many things, but they all agree that every child is different.

Every preschool is also different, especially in teaching philosophies. For example, if your child attends a Montessori school, he'll learn some academics at his own pace. But if he goes to a traditional preschool, he'll probably deal mostly with socialization and life management skills. That means he'll learn to play with other kids, put on his coat and shoes and put away toys, among other things.

Kay Bumgardner's 4-year-old daughter, Haley, attended a preschool at the local Methodist church. Kay liked the combination of basic academics and social interaction that her daughter got there.

"Each day, they would learn each letter of the alphabet and make a picture of things that start with that letter," she says. "Before each holiday, the teachers would explain about the holiday and they would do a craft representing that holiday. They were also taught about shapes, numbers and colors."

Regardless of the type of school you choose, most don't expect your child to have already mastered these tasks; that's what preschool is for. However, many will require your child to be toilet-trained, so it's a good idea to first check out the preschool's policy on children in diapers.

Learning at Home
While it's not necessary for your child to write, spell or count before he embarks upon the preschool experience, there are things you should do to prime his mind for those tasks to come. For example, it may be more important to help your child understand what words mean, as opposed to programming him to recognize those words written on paper.

"I think it's very appropriate to read to your children, to point things out, to play games with them," says Myers-Walls. "That will help them recognize colors and shapes -- not to think they are tasks they should learn."

Also, Myers-Walls says more and more research is suggesting that early experience with music is the best preparation for math skills.

Learning in preschool is made to be fun, and your child will probably be enthusiastic about things he's learned. His excitement will provide you with an excellent opportunity to help him work on school tasks after school has ended. Just remember to keep it fun and meaningful.

At school, Haley learned a bit about the days of the week. Her mother, Kay, helped her combine her love of school with the things she had learned there.

"Haley loved her preschool class so much, she willed herself well whenever she got the slightest bit sick," Kay says. "She learned her days of the week with me. She would say, 'Today is Monday, tomorrow is Tuesday -- PRESCHOOL DAY! The next day is Wednesday, the next day is Thursday -- PRESCHOOL DAY! Then Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and then Tuesday -- PRESCHOOL DAY!'"

Most preschools will concentrate on the use of tools such as pencils, crayons, glue and scissors -- all things you can help your child with at home. Children will also learn large motor tasks: skipping, jumping, climbing and running. In fact, don't be worried if you pick up your child from preschool to find that the only thing he's done all day is play; experts say engaging in quality play is how kids learn.

"An adult will be there to help children learn how to play, and learn how to use play in order to learn," says Myers-Walls. "For example, the adult will be watching and saying, 'Look, you just stacked three blocks.' That's not saying, 'Here's the number three. Learn the number three.' They'll say, 'Oh look, it fell over. Why do you think that happened?'" Myers-Walls says that's the same way parents should approach learning at home.

Because preschool is often the first in many years of education, it's a critical point in development. By understanding what your child can and can't do and concentrating on the former, you will help him cultivate a life-long love of learning that is just taking hold.

"[Haley] is really looking forward to going back for her second year of preschool this fall," Kay says. "She has come out of her little shell a little. Of course, I am relieved and happy that she did so well."