The liberation of the family from the excessive control of the state, support of children's moral values, the improvement of childcare, and overcoming the demographic crisis have all influenced recent discussions on preschool education and care in Russia. The essay analyses how different, and often conflicting, formulations of public interests' influenced preschool institutions in Russia during the last 25 years. The essay also seeks to explore contemporary evaluations of preschools in the context of the interpretations offered by public discussions and parents of the Soviet practice of childcare.