How do parents and caregivers of children under 6 perceive kindergartens, and what do they expect from them?

This is addressed in the results of the study "Attitudes and Engagement of Parents and Caregivers with Preschool Education and Child Development in Ukraine," which Rating Group conducted in February 2026 at the request of UNICEF Ukraine, in partnership with Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science (MES).

Preschool attendance

More than half of children under 6 attend a kindergarten.

• 55% of parents and caregivers of children under 6 said their child currently attends a kindergarten. 36% said their child does not attend, and another 2% said their child is enrolled but does not currently attend.
• The highest share of attendance was recorded in the West — 66%, and the lowest in the East — 37%.
• In regional centers, 60% of children attend kindergarten; in other cities, 57%; in villages, 47%.
• Among those whose children are enrolled in or attend kindergarten, 59% did not wait in a queue at all. 15% waited less than a month, 6% waited 1–2 months, 4% waited 3–5 months, 5% waited 6 to 12 months, and another 9% waited more than a year.
• 37% of parents and caregivers used the electronic queue when enrolling their child in kindergarten, and 62% did not.
• The electronic queue was used most often in regional centers — 59%. In other cities this figure is 31%, and in villages, 16%.

Why parents enroll children in kindergarten

Kindergarten is seen primarily as a setting for socialization and early development.

• The main reasons for enrolling a child in kindergarten are the opportunity for the child to interact with peers (named by 77% of parents and caregivers whose children are enrolled in or attend kindergarten) and supporting the child's early development (49%).
• One in four respondents whose child is enrolled in or attends kindergarten mentions preparing the child for school structure and routine (29%), the child being in a safe, developmental environment while parents are at work (28%), and kindergarten allowing parents or caregivers to keep working or return to work (28%).
• 22% mention introducing the child to academic basics, and 21% mention developing independence, confidence, and personal growth.

Why some children don't attend kindergarten

• Among respondents whose children don't attend kindergarten, 46% say this is because the child hasn't yet reached the appropriate age.
• 21% said they can't attend kindergarten because of the security situation. 10% cited the lack of a kindergarten in their settlement, and 8% cited the lack of a bomb shelter.
• Other reasons were mentioned less often: distrust in the child's safety with other people (6%), no group available for the relevant age category (6%), transport difficulties (5%), and insufficient funds to cover kindergarten-related costs (4%).

Experience attending kindergarten

Most parents and caregivers notice positive changes after their child starts attending kindergarten.

• 76% of respondents said that after their child started attending kindergarten, they noticed mostly positive changes in their child.
• 16% mention both positive and negative changes. Only 2% noted mostly negative changes, and 4% noticed no changes.
• The highest satisfaction ratings go to basic areas of care and interaction: care for children, interaction with parents, the composition of caregivers and staff, and the development of communication skills.
• Somewhat lower ratings go to the development of reading and math skills, food, the facility's financial transparency and accountability, and its material and technical equipment.

Which skills parents consider most important

We asked parents to choose up to three skills they consider most important for their child's development.

Parents most often consider communication and the ability to express one's personality the main skills for a child's development.

• Parents and caregivers most often named interacting with other children (40%), the ability to express and stand up for one's own opinion (36%), and interacting with adults (32%).
• One in four respondents (26%) named responsibility and the ability to make choices.
• Almost one in five named self-care, safe behavior, sensory development, and a healthy lifestyle.
• Academic and digital skills were mentioned far less often: math was named by 5%, digital literacy by 4%, civic awareness by 2%, and environmental awareness by 1%.

What services parents expect from kindergartens

Among parents, we see significant demand for modern, engaging resources for child development.

• The most common wish is for kindergartens to have modern and engaging playgrounds with a variety of equipment — 59%.
• Other frequently mentioned material needs include updated classroom technology, sensory rooms or spaces for relaxation and stimulation, and interactive floors or tables with learning technology (each around 40%).
• Also frequently mentioned are opportunities and activities such as speech therapy (45%), a swimming pool, and foreign language classes (44%). About a third also mentioned excursions and trips, music and theater programs, and STEM activities.

Rating Group is one of Ukraine's largest research institutions, operating since 2008. The company is registered in Ukraine and has extensive experience conducting sociological surveys in Ukraine and abroad. The group includes the Rating Sociological Group, the Rating Lab research laboratory, the Rating Online platform, and the Rating Call Center.