Preschool is an early childhood program in which children combine
learning with play
in a program run by professionally trained adults.
Children are most
commonly enrolled in preschool between the
ages of three and five,
though those as young as two can attend
some schools. Preschools are
different from traditional day care
in that their emphasis is learning and development rather than
enabling parents to work or pursue other activities.
Preschool is an early childhood program in which children
combine learning with play in a program run by professionally
trained adults. Children are most commonly enrolled in preschool
between the ages of three and five, though those as young as
two can attend some schools.
Description
Before
1960, the education of young children was
primarily regarded as the responsibility of families within the home. As
of 2004, most young children in the USA spend some portion of their
days apart from their parents. Most attend
some sort of center-based program prior to kindergarten.
In 2001, 52
percent of three- and four-year-olds were in a nursery school or
preschool program. The enrollment rate for four-year-olds in 2001
was nearly the same as the enrollment rate for five-year-olds in 1970.
There are several factors influencing this dramatic change, including a
rise in the numbers of mothers working outside the home, a decline in
the size of families (leading more parents to turn to preschools as a
social outlet for their children), and a growing desire to give children
a head start academically.
The higher the income and educational level
of the parents, the more likely it is that a child will attend
preschool. This correlation remains true in spite of increasing
governmental support for programs targeting children in low-income
households.
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Filled with games, songs, and
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curriculum. The peacemaking skills they learn will become an integral
part of everything they do in the classroom.
Why is preschool education important?
Early childhood is considered to be the most important
phase of development. Healthy early child development, which includes
physical, social/emotional, and linguistic/cognitive development (each
equally important), strongly affect mental and physical health, literacy and numeracy skills, life success.
Is preschool better than staying at home?
What they found confirmed the long-understood benefits of center-based preschool, especially as compared to home-based
care. Examining children's vocabulary skills, the study found strongly
positive effects on children enrolled in Head Start versus those
who would otherwise stay at home
Social and Emotional Development
In preschool, children will learn to strengthen their social and
emotional development .
Children learn how to compromise,
be respectful and problem
solve. Preschool provides an
environment for children to explore, gain a
sense of self, play
with peers and build self-confidence. Children
learn they can accomplish tasks and make decisions without the help of
their parent.
School Readiness
Behavior management is a major part of preschool learning.
In preschool,
children learn how to be students. Children
learn patience, how to
raise their hands and take turns.
Children also learn how to share the
teacher's attention.
Language and Cognitive Skills
Children’s language skills are nurtured in a “language-rich”
environment. In a classroom setting, teachers help children strengthen
their language skills by introducing new vocabulary during art, snack
time, and other activities.
Teachers engage students
with thought-provoking questions to give them opportunities to learn
language through singing, talking about books and creative play.
Teachers read stories to children to encourage their listening.
comprehension, and expressive language skills. Matching games, sorting
games and counting games build children’s understanding of numbers, and
sequences. Putting puzzles together encourages children to notice
patterns and to work on problem-solving skills.
Children learn best through activities they find interesting, such as
songs, story time, and imaginative play. Preschool is not about achieving
academic success; it is about creating a well-round child who wants to
explore and question their surroundings.
HEAD START
Since 1965, the federal HEAD STAR
program has provided free education for young children in many
low-income families across the USA. In 2000, Head Start served 11
percent of all three- and four-year olds in the USA. In 2001, Head Start
reported enrollment of over 900,000 children, at a cost of roughly
$7,000 per child.
Head Start programs
are available in all 50 states and are offered in a variety of formats,
including both all-day and half-day programs. Some of them are held at
the public school the child will eventually attend.
Self-Confidence
In pr-school, children learn they can actually do things for
themselves. Children will learn to wash their hands, go to the bathroom
and take off their shoes without an adult doing it for them.
Children
may have classroom jobs and take pride in helping out in the classroom.
Learning new skills helps builds confidence.
Advantages of preschool
Many children who attend high-quality
preschool programs have their lives changed for the better. In the
first five years of life, children acquire the basic capabilities that
prepare them for later success in school and life. Many studies show
that high-quality preschools improve achievement, behavior, and school
readiness for economically disadvantaged children.
Follow-up research
with these same children shows that they earn more money, experience
more stable home lives, and become more responsible citizens than they
would have if they had not attended preschool.
Children who attend
preschool are better prepared to enter kindergarten, both academically
and socially. Whatever their format, preschools offer parents and
children typical benefits.
A good program can help children develop
their gross and fine motor skills , improve their language and communication abilities, and exercise their creativity
Disadvantages of preschool
The greatest academic and social
progress seen in preschools is in children from deprived backgrounds.
However, few programs have the quality necessary to bring about the
benefits promised.
The costs of a high-quality program can be far
greater than the costs of education at some public universities. Most
children in preschool, however, are not disadvantaged, and some
researchers believe the same gains can be had at home by providing
educational toys , games and books for the child. In some
preschools, the emphasis on groups might mean that children will not
receive the individual attention they require.
This is a particular risk
if the preschool does not follow the National Association for the
Education of Young Children's recommended teacher-to-child ratio of no
more than ten preschoolers per staff member.
One-on-one instruction is
an advantage parents will not likely find in any preschool.
Opportunities for playing with other children exist in churches, clubs,
and other outlets, where the child can learn social skills.
Some believe
that what children need most is lots of play and free time and close
interaction with their parents, something that may be compromised if the
child is away from home for long periods of time.
Another disadvantage
is that some children experience acute separation anxiety ,
indicating that they are not yet ready to make the transition to the
preschool environment.
Many programs also expect the child to be
toilet-trained, a mile stone that not all children have achieved at the
preschool age.
A Word From Very well
A quality early childhood education provides children with cognitive,
behavioral, and social skills they don't learn at home. Teachers find it
easier to teach a child who possesses a strong preschool education
background in language skills, listening comprehension, attention
management skills, and a positive attitude toward learning.
In preschool children will gain the confidence of themselves
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