The Importance of Preschool

1. What's the difference between childcare and preschool?

Childcare centers are generally an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 2- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers children similar advantages to a preschool.

2. How important are preschool?

There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool education. At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, and contribute to circle time.

Statistics show that a majority of adolescent attend at least one year of preschool. Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.

Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach children how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, she'll learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behavior-management skills.

In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving children some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.

3. What will my child learn?

In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. Children in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time. Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them -- what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation."

4. But what about learning his ABCs?

"Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit children down and 'teach' them is the wrong way to do it. They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting -- storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks. To help children learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let children tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills -- not achieving academic milestones. Children need to be imaginative and to socialize -- that's what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to.

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