Benefits of Early Childhood Education
By: Brooke Akins
Having been in education for over ten years, I can testify that preschool is more than just coloring and pasting. In my opinion, it is an opportunity not only to adjust to school, teachers, and other children; it’s also a chance to not be left behind. Besides teaching young children their ABC’s and how to cut, color, and paste, preschool also prepares young children socially as well as academically.
Benefits of an early childhood education:
Provides your child with group time. This teaches him to share attention, the spot light, and toys. It gives him the chance to learn how to interact with others when he has to share attention. It is a great opportunity for a child to get use to the classroom dynamic, and his place in it.
Provides your child with activity time. This allows your child to work on problem solving skills, exercise her creativity, and learn to use her imagination. These skills will all come into play when she starts kindergarten, and will be important foundations for other learning. When children are in a preschool setting, they have structured activities that are organized, but they are also open for play and pretend, and creativity. This is great for stimulating the mind and helping children get in the learning mode.
Provides your child with a less formal atmosphere on a daily basis. Allowing children to have snack time and other social situations teaches manners and healthy interaction with others. It is a great place for your child to work out his differences because it is a neutral territory, without anyone owning the toys, or having some sort of priority or seniority.
Provides your child with the skills she needs before entering formal education. Your child will learn comprehension, narrative skills, abstract thinking, and many other necessary skills. For example, she will learn to listen and concentrate. One of the fun things about a child being in preschool is that it allows her to have fun story times and other learning times that help her to learn to apply skills without the pressure of a parent forcing her to do so.
Provides your child with academics. Your child will learn his alphabet and numbers, and other basic skills that need to be mastered before starting kindergarten. Keep in mind that singing the alphabet song is not recognizing or applying the letters in the ways they will need to be used, and counting to 10 is not the only way to learn numbers; your child should recognize the numbers too.
As a parent and educator I also keep in mind that by enrolling my children into preschool it empowers them to think, explore, wonder and learn how to learn. It helps develop their language and communication skills for daily routines in life.
As I teach I see how preschool has helped my children and students to gain independence, self- esteem, and self-confidence.
What to Consider when Choosing a Preschool
Credentials
Ask if the school itself is accredited. Most preschools are privately run. That means they make their own rules. Ask whether teachers have earned early childhood education degrees or have years of experience in the industry.
Hours
Some preschools offer three day or five day options, but these days almost all preschools extend their hours for daycare. Find a center that accomodates your schedule.
Hours
Some preschools offer three day or five day options, but these days almost all preschools extend their hours for daycare. Find a center that accomodates your schedule.
Nutrition
Does the school provide lunch and /or snacks or will you pack them from home? If your child has food allergies, make sure the school can ensure their safety.
Look at the Art
A picture is worth a thousand words, so look at what’s hanging on the walls. Does everything look the same? Is all the crayon coloring within the lines? Some schools emphasize facts,: “Trees are green.” Others encourage imagination,: “Interesting. I’ve never seen a baby growing on a tree before!”
Visiting
Does the school ensure student safety? How do they keep track of pickups at the end of the day?
Philosophy
Educators have different views and approaches. Decide if you want your child to have more free play verse structured learning.
Brooke Akins has a degree in elementary education kindergarten from Stephen F. Austin University and a Master’s in administration from Texas A&M University. She has been teaching for eleven years and is the mother of three. She currently teaches preschool at Williams Memorial Church Preschool.
