What does preschool offer

Thanks kindly for sharing. I am a grad student Master in Special Education , and I am currently writing a paper on the importance of enrolling students in an enriching preschool program by the age of two.

This article is very insightful and will help me convince my audience about the importance of children attending preschool. So again, thank you for sharing. Thank you for sharing this, this helped me write my discussion board!

This article helped me think critically about why children should attend preschool. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here are 15 reasons why preschool is important: 1. Preschool teaches children how to be learners. Preschool helps children develop social skills. Preschool activities boost pre-literacy skills. Preschool builds a foundation for math.

Preschool students get to make choices. Children learn to take care of themselves. Children learn to take care of each other. Preschool promotes language skills.

Children develop cognitive skills. Preschool activities help children develop motor skills. The preschool environment provides structure with limited rules.

Check to see if your school is among these, and take advantage of the opportunity if you can. This will ease your child's anxiety a great deal when the first day arrives. If your school doesn't offer practice bus rides, take a little trip on a public bus together. It's not exactly the same as a school bus, of course, but it should make the whole idea of riding a bus much less alien to your child.

You'll want to double-check that your child knows about bus safety. Does your preschool's bus have seat belts? Does your child know how to put a seat belt on by himself? Your preschool will likely hold an orientation meeting which will go over these details.

The more you can prepare your child in advance, the smoother the transition will be. Starting preschool is a big transition for small children. Understandably, many preschoolers struggle at first, especially if they're not used to being away from Mom and Dad. Separation anxiety is a very common problem for preschoolers, especially during the first few days and weeks. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to make the transition as smooth and painless as possible:.

Children often feel scared and anxious because the idea of school is completely unknown to them. What will happen to me? Will Mom ever come back? Will the teacher be mean? Talking to your child about what school is like will help the idea seem manageable, maybe even exciting. Tell your child why you chose the school you chose, and about what fun things he's going to be able to do there.

It's best to be vague, though. If you get his hopes up for a specific activity and the class doesn't do it on the first day, you may have a problem on your hands. For example, instead of promising that he'll get to play hide-and-seek with his friends, just tell him he'll get to play.

In general, be positive, upbeat, and excited for your child, and chances are he'll pick up on your emotions and feel that way too. Make sure you explain that you're not going to stay there with him. This is often the most difficult part of the process: the moment when you say goodbye for the first time. Many children react with terror, crying and clinging to your leg. This is usually because they didn't know what to expect.

If you kindly and gently explain that Moms and Dads don't go to school with their kids, and if you explain that you'll be back in just a short time to pick them up, the transition should be a lot easier. If a toy is behind a chair, it hasn't ceased to exist. By reinforcing this concept with your child, you'll help him get ready for that big moment when you leave him at school.

Obviously, you won't want to use the words "object permanence" with your 3-year-old, that's a bit much. Use simple illustrations, perhaps with his favorite toy or stuffed animal. Place his teddy bear behind a book, and ask him if he can find it. When he finds the bear, say, "See, buddy? We couldn't see your bear, but he was still right there for you. When you go to school, I won't be right there with you, but I promise I'll be right back for you.

Bringing your child along on a site visit is an excellent way to get him excited about going to school. If your child can see the school, the classrooms, and maybe even play on the playground, his anxiety about that mysterious new "school" place might just turn into excitement and optimism.

Make sure you call the main office and arrange an appropriate time for a visit. Check to see if they have an orientation meeting for new students and their parents. Your little one may even get a head start on making new friends this way. Before the first day of school, you'll want to help your child get lots of practice with basic social skills, such as sharing, cleaning up, and saying "please" and "thank you".

If he understands these concepts before they're expected of him in the classroom, he'll have a much easier time and will serve as a good example for his friends. It's particularly helpful to have your child practice these skills with other children his age.

Set up playdates and playgroups with other kids in the neighborhood, visit the local playground, or go take a fun class at the library or community center. Ideally, the kids would be going to the same preschool, but it's not at all necessary. What's important is giving your child an opportunity to practice getting along with other children, and acting appropriately in social situations.

If your child struggles with basic self-care skills potty-training, hand-washing, taking shoes on and off, buttoning up his own pants, etc. Take time to practice these skills well before the first day of school. The more prepared he is in this area, the easier his transition will be. Of course, he may not perfectly master every little thing in time. Make sure he understands that it's okay to ask his teacher for help, and that he doesn't need to be afraid to do so.

Even children who respond positively and enthusiastically to preschool may still show signs of stress as they transition. A common manifestation of this is regression in other areas of their life baby-talking, for instance, or clinginess, or moodiness.

This is perfectly normal. Preschoolers are incredibly bright, energetic, and curious, but they're not great multitaskers. The switch to preschool is putting a lot of new pressures on their developing minds, and they may not adjust absolutely perfectly every step of the way. The best way to help is by being positive and supportive. Talk to them often about what they're doing and learning at preschool, and what they love about it.

Give lots of hugs and encouragement, and make sure they know they're loved and cared for. Provide positive reinforcement such as praise or rewards when he displays appropriate behavior, and be patient and understanding as he works his way through the transition. With your love and support, he'll get through this time and learn to thrive. So, you're all enrolled, you've been practicing some independence skills with your little one, and you feel like he's going to do a great job.

Now it's only a matter of ensuring that you have everything he needs for a successful first day at preschool. Here are a few items to check off your list before the big day actually arrives:. A Backpack Tag: This will help your child's teacher immensely as she tries to learn whose backpack is whose. Don't hang the tag on the outside of the pack! Fasten it on the inside, so it's visible when you open the zipper. Make sure your child's name and phone number are written clearly on the tag, as well as your child's teacher, room number, and school phone number.

A Picture or Lovey from Home: It's pretty common for preschool-aged children to get anxious and homesick when they first begin school. Send a photo or a small item from home in your child's backpack, so that he can look at it if he starts feeling scared or sad. It's a good idea to check with your teacher before you do this. Generally, it's not encouraged for children to bring toys from home, but for the first days of transitioning to preschool, teachers will usually be pretty accommodating.

Supplies Requested by the Teacher: You'll probably receive a list of these things before school starts. The list will likely include washable! A folder is a good idea, even if your teacher didn't specifically request it; your child will likely be coming home with notes, art projects, and other papers on a daily basis, and you'll want a place to put them.

Extra Clothes: Preschool is a pretty messy place, by nature. Children finger paint, play with clay, eat snacks, and so on. Not only that, accidents are pretty common for preschool kids, even if they've been potty-trained for a long time. A change of clothes can be a lifesaver for the teacher, and will save your child a lot of embarrassment.

Wet Wipes or Tissues: These are in constant demand in a preschool classroom. Your teacher will be most appreciative if you send some in!

Homemade Snacks, Particularly Those with Nuts: Food allergies are becoming more prevalent in children across the nation, and it's hard to overstate the potential health risks some foods may pose.

This is why many schools have banned any snacks or treats that aren't store-bought and individually wrapped. This goes double for anything with nuts! In general, let the school handle snack-time. Hand Sanitizer: Although it may seem counter-intuitive, hand sanitizers can cause big problems in preschool classrooms.

Once again, allergies play a part in this. What's more, many children have tried to drink it and have gotten sick, and teachers have a particularly hard time monitoring its proper use. It's best just to leave it at home. Rather, teach your child good hand-washing skills, so he can use the warm water and soap provided by the school. Parenting » Early learning , Find a school skills » 10 good reasons your child should attend preschool.

Preschool is an opportunity for growth For many children, preschool is their first experience in a structured setting with teachers and groups of children. Preschool promotes social and emotional development In order to learn, a young child needs to feel cared for and secure with a teacher or caregiver.

The preschool environment is structured, although it may not appear that way A highly structured environment helps young children learn to make friends and play well with others. Preschool activities boost pre-math and literacy skills Young children show growing interest in pre-math and pre-literacy skills.

Preschool helps develop motor skills Physical coordination improves, allowing the child to explore her environment — and to challenge herself-in new ways. Share on Pinterest. Get the GreatSchools newsletter — our best articles, worksheets and more delivered weekly. Sign up. Choosing the wrong college can be bad for mental health Choosing the wrong college can be bad for mental health. How to talk to your teen about reach schools How to talk to your teen about their reach school.

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Get Updates. Privacy Policy. Although beneficial for all children, these programs are especially important for children in disadvantaged groups, guiding them toward healthier development and giving them the tools they need before school entry. Preschool programs provide early childhood education and care for children from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in the years prior to their entry into Grade 1. Settings typically include schools, nursery schools, childcare centres and private homes.

Since the middle of the 20 th century, preschool programs have been increasingly widespread given the recognition of the importance of learning during early childhood when brain development is very rapid. One of the important functions of preschool programs is to help children acquire learning-related skills, such as the ability to express thoughts, adapt behaviours to situational demands, control impulsivity, show curiosity, remain concentrated and be socially competent.

As such, school readiness is not only about teaching children basic language and mathematics skills, but is also about promoting self-regulation. Although beneficial for all children, these early childhood learning opportunities are especially important for children in disadvantaged groups as they play a critical role in reducing the impact of negative early experiences and in redirecting their development into a more productive trajectory. Accordingly, preschool programs can help to reduce the educational gap between children from vulnerable and more affluent families.

Several cognitive and socio-emotional benefits are associated with participation in preschool programs. These long-lasting positive impacts are increasingly recognized across both developed and developing countries e. Along the same lines, learning is fostered in an environment characterized by positive student-interactions. When children feel competent, identify with their teacher and receive appropriate feedback from them, they tend to be more motivated to learn.