The concept of preschool has been long debated, with some parents claiming that preschool is beneficial to a child’s ultimate educational experience and some parents claiming that children should not be subjected to formal learning until later. Let’s look at some common questions and answers concerning pre-k.
1. Will Preschool Actually Benefit My Child?
Children who enter preschool programs are often better prepared socially and academically for formal education when they enter kindergarten and first grade. The reason for this is that they are not dealing with a huge social transition while adjusting to formal education at the same time. An added boost of confidence among peers will help them make friends and do well in school.
Entering formal education in kindergarten is a huge step educationally. Kindergarten is not simply playtime. Real learning and education start to take place at this stage. If a child has never been in a formal classroom setting, they will be dealing with a lot of emotions upon entering kindergarten in addition to the expectations that are being placed on them to start learning as well. Pre-K gives the child the chance to get adjusted and comfortable with a classroom setting and have other children in their environment before they take on heavy learning tasks.
2. What Does a Child Learn in Pre-K?
During the preschool years, a child will start to learn important readiness skills that will help them be better prepared for formal education. These readiness skills include reading readiness and math readiness. Learning these traits early will allow your child to be a step ahead of many classmates academically. Reading readiness includes the skills necessary to start to learn to read. Letter recognition, or learning the fundamentals of the English language, sound recognition, and an appreciation for books are other traits commonly taught. Math readiness includes number recognition, understanding the connection between numbers, counting, and other skills such as patterns. A child will also learn important social skills in pre-k such as how to appropriately handle themselves in public and how to interact with children their age. It also gives them a chance to become more comfortable away from their parents.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, about 4.8 million children attend an organized pre-k program. If you are looking for a quality preschool for your child, please contact us today. We will be happy to answer your questions and help with the enrollment process.
