Decision as providor; own child other Childcare?

[mom-in-alberta]

I know this isn't the most popular theory, since preschool is sort of the "in" thing to do now, but there are soooooo many years of school ahead, that I don't see why the rush these days? Especially for you folks in Ontario, when school starts at what, 4??? That's 14 YEARS of school (15 if you guys still do the whole "Grade 13" thing), let alone college or university. I have a 4 year old daughter, turning 5 this summer and she will be starting kindergarten in the fall, without having gone to preschool.
Having said that, my two older boys DID go. One for ages 3 and 4, the other just when he was 4. They had fun, made some friends, and it's possible that they "learned" more than if they had been home with me.
I admit too, that part of the reason that I didn't send my daughter this year is cost. The preschools around here have taken advantage of the fact that demand is high, and it's now hundreds of dollars a month for less than 8 hours a week of "class". Sickening.
Basically, I am saying that while I don't think it's NECESSARY; if you think your child would enjoy it and have fun, and it works for you- Go for it. But if it's going to put you in a bad financial position, or make for a lot of juggling of schedules and kids.... meh. It does sound like you get a fair amount of the socializing, with daycare kids and church and so on. I have seen kids go to kindergarten with NObody other than mom or dad having been around them. Those are the kids that have issues!