Benefits of children attending preschool
You may think that your child seems too young to venture out into the world. However, a variety of benefits await children who attend preschool. Learn about the social, emotional, and academic benefits for children spending time in a classroom before entering kindergarten.
Academic preparation
Children who have classroom exposure prior to entering kindergarten generally benefit significantly from additional academic instruction and exposure. The expectations for students entering the school have increased in recent years. Youth should have math and literacy skills that allow them to dive right into the curriculum once they start the elementary grades. The preschool will also provide children with opportunities to develop cognitive and language skills. Children will expand their vocabulary, practice problem solving, learn to apply logic to situations, and begin fundamental reading work.
gross motor skills
Little ones need lots of practice as they work on developing gross motor skills. Gross motor skills include running, jumping, skipping, and climbing, all large movements that involve numerous parts of the body working together. The preschool offers opportunities for organized physical education with class hours devoted to playing active group games.
Opportunities for creative activities
A preschool classroom usually offers plenty of creative activities for children to explore. Centers around a classroom can offer activities such as pretend play, science, cooking, blocks, painting, sculpting, reading, building, and reading. While you may be able to provide some of these activities at home, a classroom setting often provides children with more motivation and variety. Some children may struggle with too many options in the classroom. In this situation, teachers can help by offering gentle suggestions to help a student focus without feeling overwhelmed.
Emotional and Social Development
Spending time away from home and from parents can be effective in boosting children’s emotional and social development. A child learns that it is possible to develop a trusting relationship with adults other than her parent by spending positive, quality time with a teacher. Children will also learn important social skills while spending time with their peers. Young people learn to take turns and listen to other people when they speak. Students also begin to learn skills such as managing frustration and anger, empathizing with others, and resolving conflict.
budding independence
By the time children are ready to start kindergarten, they will need some independence skills. Independently following rules like washing hands before eating and putting on a jacket are examples of self-care that a child will learn to embrace.
A high-quality preschool will offer the perfect balance between structure and freedom. In this structured environment, little ones will learn how to get to know others, play positively, follow rules, accept directions, stay within limits, and learn lessons. Done effectively, students are not even aware of the soft structure that exists in this type of early classroom. This ensures that children grow and prosper, preparing for the abundance of new challenges that await them.