Preschool is no longer optional for most children
As the school year progresses, many parents of three- and four-year-olds are considering whether preschool is part of their child’s future. While kindergarten is the first step into the formal education system in many areas of the country, attending school early can be a discrete requirement. No matter what the official stance, experts agree, if preschool is available, children should attend.
In years past, formal education began with kindergarten and even in some cases first grade. This is not the case. Kindergarten is more rigorous than ever. Kindergarten children are expected to know letters and be able to count. They are also expected to be well on their way to becoming readers and writers. In addition, kindergarten children are expected to be able to sit still for formal instruction and understand the intricacies of school, such as raising their hands, taking turns, and not speaking when it is not their turn. All these skills used to be taught in kindergarten.
Preschools now teach all of these things and more. Many preschools start working on the standards that kindergartners need to know. But something much more important happens in preschool, children take their first steps towards independence.
Psychologists and other educational experts point to the important role that going to school plays in children’s journey to personal independence. Being away from parents allows children to start finding their own way and discovering who they are. Working with other adults and children at this very young age begins to give them the confidence they need. Because most preschoolers know this, the teachers and other adults in these programs are experts at fostering this independence in very young children.
Research indicates that the effects of a good preschool can last throughout a child’s education and into adulthood. Programs like Head Start show increases in IQ, reduced grade repetition, increased likelihood of graduating from high school, as well as attending and completing college. Also, because Head Start focuses on nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, its students show better health throughout their lives. All of these things also lead to greater earning potential during adulthood.
Of course, for most parents, the decision to send their baby to preschool is an agonizing one. It’s hard to leave a crying toddler in the hands of a stranger. There are many cases where going to preschool is not a good option, especially for children with health or other problems, but for most children, preschool can have benefits that far outweigh the painful separation that occurs at the beginning.
No matter what, parents should always carefully consider the needs of their individual child. The benefits of a standards-based program are not the same as those of most day care providers. Parents need to realize that babysitting at daycare is not the same.