What Is the Value of a Quality Preschool Education?

The value of a quality preschool education cannot be underestimated. The impact on early childhood development can be seen in academics such as literacy, math, and student readiness. It can also have an impact on children's social skills and on their physical development. Both can have far-reaching consequences in terms of success in school and in sports. A preschool that neglects one of these areas can seriously handicap a child's ability to succeed.

Literacy

One of the biggest benefits to a quality preschool education is in development of literacy skills. The reality is that a child's ability to learn to read is directly impacted by their acquisition of vocabulary. Their ability to learn language is strongest prior to entering school. In addition, a quality preschool education can help children explore other language related skills and print concepts such as reading left to right.

Math Literacy

Similarly, a quality preschool education can give young children an advantage in math literacy. Through games and exploration, a child can develop number recognition and learn counting concepts and sequencing. They can also explore geometry with shape recognition and can even learn to recognize patterns. These are all critical early math literacy skills. When a child enters school having already mastered these, he or she will be ahead of the class.

Student Readiness

Of course, succeeding in school takes more than mastering academic skills. Young children need to understand expectations for student behavior. Things like raising hands or sitting still and listening for extended periods, do not come naturally to many children. Failure to master these concepts can have a negative impact on a child's ability to succeed. A quality preschool can make a huge difference in this arena by giving children the opportunity to practice these skills.

Social

A major part of early childhood development is learning social skills. In fact, some studies have suggested that children can be at risk later in life if this skill is not mastered prior to school. Children who lack these skills face difficulty later in life because many curriculum and work settings require collaborative work.

Physical Development

Most experts now agree that a quality preschool education should include physical motor skills. Remember that not every child is born a natural athlete, and many children can benefit from being taught how to hop or skip. Helping children master these skills through fun games and exercises, can increase their enjoyment of physical activity and can make a difference in their success in sports.

Naturally, parents want the best for their children. A quality preschool can help teach children many skills that will help them excel in school and life. These skills include literacy, math, student readiness, social skills, and physical development. A preschool that explores these in fun and exciting ways not only prepares a child for school, but it can create a life-long excitement for learning. Now, that's value.

Angela Walker has a passion for children, and her and her staff at Next Generation Children's Center in Reno, NV are dedicated to helping foster your child's early childhood development.

To see what else Angela is writing about visit Angela's Blog.

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