Importance of Preschool

Preschool isn’t just a place for parents to drop off their children while they are at work for the day. Preschool is the place where children learn the necessary skills needed to succeed in school and in life. Preschool helps children build basic foundation and prepare them for kindergarten. With high-quality preschools and qualified teachers the possibilities are endless. Preschool provide a variety of program and services for children which help children grow and develop. Children enrolled in quality preschool programs are more likely to succeed academically and socially when they are older. Preschool is beneficial for early childhood education because preschool education has positive outcomes for the child through their learning experiences, socialization, and development

During early 19th preschool was not available everywhere like nowadays. As time passed preschool became one of the most important part of early childhood education because preschool has lot of positive outcomes for child development. Head Start is the first publicly funded preschool program, was created in 1965 by federal government. The main purpose of the head start programs is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social cognitive development of children (Head Start of Lane Country 2017).The federal government helped create this half day program for preschool children from low income families. “ the positive success and effects of preschool meant many state leaders were showing interest in educational reform of these young students” (Espinosa 2002). The difference between Head Start and preschool is that, Head Start is funded by federal government and its free of charge to low income families who have 3 to 5 years old children. And, preschools are usually private funded, usually through tuition and fees that the parents have to pay. However, both of these program is designed to meet each child’s individual needs. Preschool provide variety of activities and programs for children. They offer a time for children just to play and they have different types of educational based toys and game for children to play with. They provide early development, social interact, prepare for schooling and education. These factor have caused the rate of attendance in preschool programs to grow each year.

Preschool play an important role in early childhood education. They offer different types of program and services which which play a vital role in a child development. According to sources, preschool refers to early education of a child to improve their level of understanding, learning, and help a child to grow and develop (Kaushik, Rewa 2014). Preschool provide children basic foundation for learning, not only academically, but also socially. Children gain a lot from going to preschool because they develop social and emotional skills, and also learn how to interact with other children. Preschool tend to focus on more early learning and academics. They helps prepare children for formal schooling gives them a advance knowledge in the early school year.

Preschool offer many different types o program because these program in preschool are important for children learning and depends on its program make the preschool good or bad. Across the country more preschool program should be develop to have a clear vision of what high-quality preschool programs look like. According to (Espinosa 2002) the quality of preschool program are rated based on it’s process and structure. The interactions, activities, materials, learning opportunities, and health and safety routines are observed and rated as a measure of process quality. Structural quality, includes the size of each group of children, the adult-child ratio, and the education and training of the teacher and staff.

When I observed the Queens Pointe preschool, I noticed how the classroom was very large in size and also organized. The classroom contained many materials such as books, colors, toys, games and etc, which contributed to the children learning. They provide many kinds of activities for children such as dance, music, and different types of games. There is a story time, when the teacher read short stories and books to a group of children. Even though preschool is mostly about play, but still they also class for children to introduce them with math, reading and writing so that they don’t find it difficult when they go to kindergarten.

Even at an early age, social interaction is essential for healthy childhood development. I conducted observation that sending a child to preschool gives the child interaction with the other children and adults. During preschool observation, I noticed that they do different types of play and activity and through this activity they try to engage and interact children with one another and people around them. I also saw that, the teacher help children learning to work with other because teamwork is a skill that is useful throughout life and teamwork help children built interaction with their peers by sharing, communicating, and working towards common goals.

Play is important to healthy brain development. According to the article “how would preschool for all work: is t all about play or ABCs?”, preschool should be more about play, because play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, physical, and emotional strength (Rochman Bonnie 2013). Play allows children to explore and interact with each other. It also helps children adjust to the school setting and to enhance children’s learning readiness, learning behaviors, and academic learning. That’s why preschool offers lots of play based programs for children. The preschool I observed, I noticed that they had a huge playground and where they have swings, slides, toys, little basketball court, and many other things for children to play. These play equipment in preschool is important in engaging children before they are old enough to go to school.

Many parents have trouble deciding whether or not to send their child to preschool. Most parents thinks that preschool is too early to start education. This is a common thought that all parents have. This is why most parents are more likely to put their child directly in kindergarten at the age of 5 to 6. However, children learning capabilities are greatest at earlier ages. Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley says, that “Children learn more in their early years than they ever will again”. Their brains are more primed to learn and will absorb more information earlier in life. Therefore the earlier children begin their education, the better. Children who attend in preschool tend to learn more and are better prepared for kindergarten and for their future life.

Preschool refers to early education of a child between the age of 3-4 years to enhance their development and finding the right educational program that can be beneficial for children.The education, program, and activities that preschool provide are significant and beneficial for children. Children gain a lot from going to preschool because they become exposed to numbers, letters, and many other things. More importantly, they develop social and emotional skills. Between the ages 2-5 years language development ensure rapidly in children. Preschool teacher engage in frequent conversation with children that helps to promote vocabulary development conversational skill in children. Also, in preschool, children are divided into groups where they are given opportunity to work together. This helps them to understand the importance of teamwork and improves their communication skills. At the end, I can say that preschool is beneficial for early childhood education, because preschool education has positive outcomes for the child through their learning experiences, and their growth and development.

citation

• Dr. Kaushik Prabhat, Marwaha Rewa, August 26, 2014. “Importance of Pre School Education”
  https://www.progressiveteacher.in/importance-of-pre-school-education/?fbclid=IwAR2y- lJqSrefdIY9UsFaBWbPNJauanthRtriQ2eRbegLUQo9hHcXbnU8jIM
•  Espinosa, L.M. (Nov., 2002). High-Quality Preschool: Why We Need It and What it Looks Like [Policy Brief]. New Brunswick, NJ: National Institute for Early Education Research.
  http://www.readingrockets.org/article/high-quality-preschool-why-we-need-it-and-what-it-looks?fbclid=IwAR27eNpGzgdhM_ur0VAGKLyjZrsx61Pq-nwOxFxOKqTiOq2Xq0ZKr9NQ-ak
• Rochman Bonnie, 2013. “ How Would Preschool for All Work: Is It All About Play or ABCs?”
  http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/08/how-would-preschool-for-all-work-is-it-all-about-play-or-abcs/
• Head start of lane country, 2017. “Ensuring that our child have a solid foundation for life”. https://www.hsolc.org/content/contact-us