Hello,
We started a great, play based co-op preschool when my son was pre-3, so, at age 2. His birthday was in August, so he was the youngest one. for the rist year, he went for 2 mornings a week. I left for 1 hour one day, and worked the other. We had a child parent ratio of 2 - 1.
I learned a lot. My son, not so much. He didn't do any art, he didn't play with any kids except for the 1 girl I babysit. He also didn't feel safe because of this 1 boy. I really enjoyed it though. And he liked to play with the different toys. He did also enjoy jumping the candle at the end of the day, so it wasn't all bad.
Also, I learned how to facilitate his communication with others. We had a script we would use to help the kids problem solve, and as they got older, they used it themselves. It works really well to teach them to share and take turns without ever using the word. For me, preschool was really helpful.
This year (he is 4) and next year we are homeschooling, and I hope to homeschool in the future. He is amazingly creative. He directs and requests art and to learn his letters, phonics, and now we will be starting numbers soon. He plays imaginative and creative games for hours a day. I actually can offer him as much as the preschool does, it is just done differently.
FWIW, we don't watch TV while the kids are awake. He is never bored. He has learned to play instead of being bored.
However, if my plan was not to homeschool, then I would definately have him in the preschool this year. They do learn important classroom skills, like to sit during circle, to wait in line to wash their hands, and to respect other kid's bubble space. And believe me, learning to wait to wash hands was really hard! I think that preschool is really important for kids who are extra sensitive, or explosive.
