We are sending/have sent both of our children to a play-based preschool, where no academics are presented at all, and we love it. They focus on learning through play, and each child is able to process whatever is important to them. My kids explored/are exploring the academics that they're ready for, at home with us.
We also had good results with this approach. Our kids (twins) went to an "Emilio Reggio" preschool - play-based with an arts focus, where they encouraged child led group projects. For example, DD's class put on a play and the kids each chose how they wanted to contribute. DD chose to create the program to hand out to audience members at the performance. The program included advertisements she created that were very clever. She was really into dinosaurs at the time, so one was for a jewelry store called "Giant Jewels". She was totally engaged at her level, and that preschool set the tone for both kids for creative/imaginative work that has persisted with both kids for many years since. (They are now 11 yo and just starting middle school (6th grade). Tomorrow is their first Honors Algebra class - yikes!)
