The Importance of Preschool

        What are some of the things that come to mind when one thinks about preschool (or Pre-K) education? For many, they just think it’s about playing with blocks or toys. For others, it’s having a snack and nap time. Others may think it is just about seeing who can color the nicest picture that day or giving the parent a “few child-free hours”. However, it is not. Preschool teachers see it all. A kid comes in crying because their parents didn’t let them have their favorite cereal, teachers do everything in their power to make that child smile and brighten their day. A child hits, bites, or kicks another child, preschool teachers are responsible for making sure those two children work it out so that they will know how to deal with those kind of issues when they go to kindergarten. Preschool teachers also do a lot of planning to make sure no child falls beneath the cracks. No teacher wants their student to fall behind. The things that preschool teachers teach their students will impact them in significant ways. They will not only help them be successful later that day, tomorrow, next week, next month or even as they move on into kindergarten, but throughout their educational career and beyond.

The first step to success is a high quality preschool. It is usually defined as a classroom where learning is occurring. It has a sense of purpose, organization, and excitement. People: teachers and families play a huge role in a high-quality preschool. It is almost like your family. The classroom is a judgement free zone. Meaning when you step into the classroom, all the students are equal.

Preschool is the first step in a long educational path for any child, but it is a critically important one. Despite the views that many hold that preschool is nothing more than structured play time and advanced childcare, it is in fact a highly important step in a child’s educational career. Children who don’t attend preschool are 25% more likely to drop out of high school than children who do attend. Higher dropout rates relate to higher percentages of the population being on welfare and food stamps. This also can translate into a higher crime rate and a large number of people entering the penal system. 70% of children who don’t attend preschool are more likely to not attend college. This would exclude them from many high paying careers or the ability to advance themselves. It would limit their opportunity of success. 50% of children who don’t go to preschool end up in some type of special education program. (High-quality preschool changes the odds!) With preschool education, you would be able to catch the signs earlier. You could take corrective measures that would possibly alleviate the possibility of more complicated corrective measures in the future.

With this being said, preschool plays a huge role in a child’s educational career. Studies show that children that attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not. (Parents Magazine) During the preschool day, children are exposed to math skills, language skills, writing skills, and how to become a better listener each and every day. Each day, the teacher plans a curriculum to whatever they think their class can handle that day. Usually in Pre-K, the main focus is writing your name. Some classes are more advanced than others when it comes to how fast they get the hang of it. After they master the concept of writing their name, teachers will usually move onto another area where they feel that class needs the most help.

Not only does preschool impact a child’s long term educational goals, but it also affects how a child will interact with society. This interaction begins right away and continues on through adulthood. When attending preschool, children learn to socialize. They learn to get along with others. There won’t always be somebody who can be there to solve their problems. When a child gets into trouble, teachers use the most communication they can with a child, so they learn to use their words instead of their hands when dealing with issues with other classmates.

 They learn to share. They are taught to share because even if they don’t want to. It is better for them to do it in preschool where they can share with their close friends. Sharing is not something everybody wants to do all the time, but it is a necessary skill when coming into contact with other people.

They also learn to participate in circle time. Circle time is a perfect opportunity for children to learn that they have to sit still for a certain amount of time while someone else is talking and to be quiet. Circle time is a time where the students learn about the calendar, the weather, and read a story. Most circle times happen before their parents come to pick them up.

Preschool helps a child learn who they are. Judith Palmer, who graduated from Mount Allison University in 1962 with a B.A in psychology and sociology, once said, “During the pre-school period the child is high-motivated by his desire to learn to become himself, to express himself as a worthwhile free agent, his interest in other children, his urges for physical activity, and his readiness to accept directions.” Palmer taught elementary school for Chambly Count Protestant School Board in Quebec. She then went on to do graduate work in psychology at Queen’s University.

 Preschool features a wide variety of fun activities. Children are given time to sing. They learn songs that they can perform for their parents at school events throughout the year. Preschools will have events like a Christmas program, graduation ceremonies, and even put on plays. This shows the parents that with all the work the children are putting in, they can have a little fun too. They learn classical nursey rhymes or songs. They will usually put their own little twist on it, at the teacher’s discretion. They are also given the opportunity to dance as well. This develops self-confidence and a sense of self-esteem.

Arts and crafts play a huge role in the activities at preschool. Arts and crafts are mainly structured. Crafts are used for their end of the year portfolios. They’re also used for an art showcase. Arts and crafts show the parents a glimpse of what the child learned throughout the day. When doing arts and crafts, there is an artist that the child and teacher will converse about. In working on a project, the preschool student will develop lifelong skills. Unlike other things they learn in preschool; the child learns a sense of structure by having to bring elements together to form a whole. This gives the child a sense of accomplishment and pride in completing a project.

Strong morality is a solid foundation upon which any society stands. Without a strong sense of right and wrong, its citizens slowly find themselves in a world governed by chaos. 60% of children who don’t go to preschool are more likely to be arrested for a violent crime. (High-quality preschool changes the odds!) Larry Schweinhart is an early childhood program researcher and speaker for policy makers, educators, and advocates throughout the US and around the world. He has served as president of the HighScope Educational Research Foundation in Ypsilanti, Michigan, since 2003. He has conducted research there since 1975 and chaired its research division from 1989 to 2003.

Schweinhart engages in a TED talk about the return of investment in high-quality preschool. TED talks are influential videos from an expert of a certain subject. In Schweinhart’s case, the subject is preschool education. In the return on investment in high-quality preschool, Larry starts out by stating that he has been studying the investment of high-quality preschool for 30+ years. Studies show that children who have a preschool education do better in school years after that. Schwienhart then goes on to say that all the money that is paid towards crime in America, should be pushed more towards the investment in high-quality preschool. It is proven that children without preschool education are more likely to be treated for mental impairments. Certified/ well-supervised teachers, a childhood development curriculum, and systematic engagement from parents is crucial for preschool success.

With this being said, preschool and kindergarten teaches you concepts you will use for your entire life. In preschool, you learn how to play nice with people that you’re surrounded with even if you don’t necessarily like them. You learn to be patient and wait your turn.

In our society, we seem to place a strong emphasis on college success. So much time, money and effort is spent preparing our young adults for college. From maintaining good grades in high school and applying to colleges of your choice. Figuring out how to pay for it and all the years spent going to classes. While all these steps are necessary and important, the key to success in life seems to lie with the solid foundation of attending a high quality preschool in the formative years of life.

Our society faces many challenges that a high quality preschool education would help solve. The foundations of success are laid at a very early age. Those skills that children learn while in a preschool environment outline their success in their entire educational career. By developing these skills, they increase their chances of success significantly. Lacking these skills, potentially puts them on the road to failure. By developing these simple traits early in life, these children, over the years, build upon these early successes which develop into habits and patterns of behavior. These habits and patterns help ensure their future success as they tackle more difficult disciplines.

Not only does a preschool education assist in a child’s educational opportunities, but it also helps them in dealing with others on a more personal level. In our society, people must learn to get along. By learning to deal with conflicts on the playground, a child will be able to use those skills later in life to deal with their friends, teachers, employers, and coworkers.

A preschool education also teaches a child a moral structure. They learn the difference between right and wrong. In a society based on law and order, this becomes critical as a child grows up. They learn that there are rules. The breaking of those rules has consequences. By learning this simple thing early in life, when the consequences are usually no more than a time out or a stern look and a scolding, they are well on their way to becoming productive members of society.

In conclusion, preschool is an important stage in a child’s early development. It impacts them socially, educationally, and morally. The impacts are positive and productive to our society. The key to not only a child’s success but the success of our society in general, may be what a child learns during his formative years of preschool.