Parenting Blog

Once upon a happy time, preschool was an option that was considered a bit excessive or unnecessary by parents. These days you’ll be hard pressed to find a young child who doesn’t go to preschool. Parents today, whose schooling probably didn’t begin until kindergarten, might think that our society is forcing kids to grow up too fast. Others may think that their kids will learn better at home than in a big group of rowdy three year-olds. Still, experts are insisting that preschool has undeniable benefits for your child, and here’s why.

Shy kids might benefit the most from preschool, because some of the most important lessons kids learn in preschool are social ones. Shyness is most easily overcome by early and frequent exposure to social situations, and the extra year or two of experience will be an invaluable jump-start for your shy child. Kids who aren’t shy benefit by learning to get along with their peers, which is often a challenge at their age. They practice adhering to a schedule and following rules, sharing their time and toys with unfamiliar people, and learning how to make friends.

Preschoolers today are learning more than ever before, sometimes at a first-grade level. Parents might think this puts too much pressure on their children, but remember that at their young age, kids’ brains soak up knowledge like sponges, and research has proven that the most effective learning takes place in childhood. Did you know that a child who begins learning a foreign language before the age of six actually builds connections between different regions of their brain that make it possible for them to speak different languages with ease? That’s why your preschooler seems to pick up on those Spanish words they hear on television so much more quickly than most high school kids.

Unfortunately, most schools don’t offer foreign languages until your child is fourteen or fifteen years of age. That’s what makes early learning so important – the connections your child builds in his brain will last him a lifetime.

Preschool is an increasingly popular choice for parents today because more often than not, both parents have full-time jobs. If you think that leaving your young child in a classroom all day is a bit excessive, consider this: would you rather have him watching television or playing computer games under the care of a sitter? Preschool teachers are educated in early child development and they understand how to maximize your child’s brainpower and well-being. Plus, kids have fun at preschool. It’s a valuable experience of early independence that will help them learn healthy interaction and responsibility. Yes, parents too are capable of providing their children with a quality learning environment, but for those who are considering preschool for their kids, know that it’s a healthy choice.