Far too often, we think of preschool and early childhood education as the stepping stone on the path to school and learning, when it is, in fact, the journey itself. Preschool is usually thought of as play time and coloring and finger paints — and while these activities are no stranger to a preschool classroom, their purpose and academic value is much greater than often given credit for.
All of this is to say that preschool and early childhood education are incredibly important, and in order to set your child up for academic (and even overall) success, these child care programs are necessary. See some of the many ways that preschool is highly beneficial for your child, and enroll your young one in the early childhood education programs at Education Depot in Indianapolis!
Preschool prepares children for kindergarten…
There are a number of milestones that a child is expected to have reached by the time they go to kindergarten. And while everyone’s development looks different, having reached these milestones means being ready to continue growing in the academic and social aspects of kindergarten — instead of having to spend time catching up.
Things like writing one’s name, identifying shapes and numbers, knowing print and literacy concepts, retelling stories, and even being able to use the bathroom independently are all things that your child should know before going to kindergarten. As NPR explained in one article, the top researchers in the nation all agreed: “They came away with one clear, strong message: Kids who attend public preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten than kids who don’t.”
Preschool can help get your child set up for kindergarten, meaning they’re aligned and have a proper start for the rest of their academic career.
…and all the school years to come.
It might seem hard to believe, but research that’s been conducted over decades has shown that preschool actually has lasting effects on adult life. Particularly for children of lower-income backgrounds, preschool somewhat levels out the playing field for future academic success, and there seems to be a correlation between academic success and success outside of the classroom. There’s never been a better time than now to contact Education Depot for enrolling your child in our preschool or other early childhood education programs.
Preschool provides a space for school readiness.
As the age old adage states, practice makes perfect. A child that’s going to kindergarten who has never been in a classroom, or had a chance for social interaction and collaboration, will very likely experience a rough transition. Of course, not every child is the same, but a child who is used to preschool as a routine usually tends to have a smoother time starting kindergarten, because it’s not too much of a shock.
Instead of your child having to worry about school (and then you worrying about your child), they could be more focused on learning and growing and enjoying their time as a whole. Practicing the skills and routines that come with kindergarten make kindergarten that much more normal.
We could go on and on about the benefits of preschool, and we’ll do our best to cover them all in a future blog. Until then, look into preschool and child care enrollment with Education Depot! From birth to Pre-K, Education Depot is here to help your child grow.