Preschool education can be very beneficial for children, both academically and socially. Preschool prepares children academically, socially, and emotionally for kindergarten.
Attending preschool can have long-term academic benefits for your child, ensuring that he or she arrives in kindergarten ready to learn. Many preschools offer academic programs as part of their curriculum. They help children develop the skills they’ll need to learn well in a classroom setting and start teaching the basic lessons that will give your child a head start when they reach kindergarten. The academic benefits of attending preschool will be particularly important during kindergarten, but the effects will continue throughout your educational experience. Making sure your child has the best introduction to learning will give them the best chance of doing well throughout their school career.
Preschool can also help your child develop social skills and become more emotionally mature. Spending time with other children of a similar age will help children learn to communicate, share, and interact with others. They will learn to work and play alone or in a group, to follow rules and instructions, and to cope with being away from you. Preschool can help your child become more confident and independent. Adjusting to a classroom environment at a young age, and without the added academic pressures of kindergarten, makes the change much easier for your child.
Different preschool programs will focus on different aspects of the experience. You can choose a preschool program that helps your child be socially and emotionally ready for school by finding a preschool with a curriculum that will follow your child. Some programs are very structured and have an academic focus, while others are more concerned with allowing your child to play and socialize.
Sending your child to preschool can also have benefits for you. Leaving your child in the care of preschool staff can allow you to enjoy some time to yourself, do some wandering without having to care for your child at the same time, or go to work.