An Analysis of Parent Preferences and Needs for Public Kindergartens

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors influencing parents' preferences for kindergarten selection in Gyeonggi Province, and to propose strategies for improving enrollment rates at public kindergartens in the region. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted with 935 parents of kindergarten children in Gyeonggi Province. Based on the survey results, the following findings and implications are presented. First, the preferences of parents with children in both public and private kindergartens in Gyeonggi Province can be categorized into three main factors: (1) the child's interests and curiosity, (2) specific educational approaches such as activities that enhance social skills, foster creativity, and develop basic life habits and character education, and (3) the emphasis on group activities, field trips, and individualized learning tailored to developmental stages in the program aspect. Second, parents identified the strengths of public kindergartens as the provision of abundant educational materials and the availability of age-appropriate equipment and educational facilities. Third, parents place great importance on the environment for their child’s commute to and from kindergarten as a key factor in their selection. Fourth, the most significant challenge parents face when choosing an early childhood education institution is the lack of information. Fifth, there is a need to extend the daily education hours and expand vacation care services. Finally, improvements are needed to create a more education-friendly environment in public kindergartens. To this end, it is necessary to optimize the size of kindergartens, taking into account regional characteristics.