Preschool helps children learn important skills that they will use throughout their lives. In preschool, children learn to socialize with other children, to communicate effectively, and to think critically.
Preschool is a place where children learn how to be learners. They learn by playing and doing activities that interest them. Preschool also helps children develop social skills. They learn how to make friends, cooperate, and listen. Additionally, children learn how to take care of themselves and each other. They also learn language skills and cognitive skills.
A group of people in Michigan started a program that has helped a lot of people. The program was for 3- and 4-year-olds and it used a problem-solving approach to learning, a focus on social development, and the engagement of parents in their child’s education. More than four decades later, the effects of the program are still being seen. The people who went to the preschool are doing better than people who didn’t go to the preschool. They have more family stability, earn more money, are less likely to receive welfare, and are less involved in crime.
Some people think that early experiences shape brain circuitry, and others think that it is still a very complex question. Some experts question the drive to apply the findings in neuroscience and brain development to the creation of school curricula. Many suspect the economic research that suggests phenomenal rates of return on the investment of children who attend preschool.
In the U.S., many children are looked after by relatives, friends, neighbors, or nannies instead of attending formal preschool programs. Two Harvard researchers are studying how these children grow and learn, in order to update the science around child care. The study will follow 5,000 children for four years, tracking their development before and after elementary school.
Many families don’t have access to a high-quality early education for their child, which means that the child may not be ready for school when they start. A study found that children who went to a high-quality early education program were better behaved and had better skills than those who didn’t. High-quality early learning is especially important for children from vulnerable populations. However, it has been hard to get people to agree that it is worth investing in.
For more information on the importance of early education check out this article.