Is a Preschool Education Important?
What skills do children learn in preschool?
Updated October 03, 2016
In 2013, President Obama proposed making high-quality preschool
education available to every four-year-old in the United States. Since
then early childhood education has been a controversial topic with both
parents and policymakers. For the 2014-2015 year, 44
states offered state-funded pre-Kindergarten education for
children beginning at age 4. Prior to age 4, parents are responsible for
the full cost of preschool.
Cost of Preschool
Most preschool fees are comparable to the high costs of daycare centers. Depending on
where you live and the quality of the preschool, average costs range
from $4,460 to $13,158 per year ($372 to $1,100
monthly), according to the National Association of Child Care Resource &
Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).
In cities, such as New York and Boston, full-day preschool may cost upward of
$20,000 for school-year tuition, summers not included. Some pre-schools offer
aftercare but others end before parents get home from work, which adds another
babysitter or nanny cost into the budget.
If you can afford preschool, many parents are
still skeptical about what children learn in preschool and whether
their child will be ready for kindergarten following a preschool education.
What Do Kids Learn
in Preschool?
Social and
Emotional Development
In preschool, children will learn to strengthen their social and
emotional development.
Children learn how to compromise, be
respectful and problem solve. Preschool provides an environment for
children to explore, gain a sense of self, play with peers and build
self-confidence. Children learn they can accomplish tasks and make decisions
without the help of their parents.
School
Readiness
Behavior management is a major part of preschool learning. In preschool,
children learn how to be students. Children learn patience, how to raise their
hands and take turns. Children also learn how to share the teacher's attention.
Children also learn about routine, following directions and
waiting. Quality preschools help children find answers through
exploration, experimentation, and conversation. Going to preschool also helps
children learn to separate
from their parent or
caregiver.
Promote
Language and Cognitive Skills
Children’s language skills are
nurtured in a “language-rich” environment. In a classroom setting, teachers
help children strengthen their language skills by introducing new vocabulary
during art, snack time, and other activities. Teachers engage students
with thought-provoking questions give children many opportunities to
learn language though singing, talking about books, and creative play.
Academics
In pre-school pre-math and
pre-literary skills are introduced. Children are taught numbers and letters,
but it is taught in a way that is appealing to children at that age. Children
sing an alphabet song while following along in a picture book or learn
rhymes and chants, which help them to notice the distinct sounds within
words.
Teachers read stories to children to encourage their listening, comprehension,
and expressive language skills. Matching games, sorting games
and counting games build children’s understanding of numbers, and
sequences. Putting puzzles together encourages children to notice patterns and
to work on problem-solving skills.
Children learn best through
activities they find interesting, such as songs, story time, and imaginative
play. Preschool is not about achieving academic success; it is about creating a
well-round child who wants to explore and question their surroundings. In
preschool children will gain the confidence of themselves as capable and
independent learners.
Self-Confidence
In pre-school, children learn they
can actually do things for themselves. Children will learn to wash their hands,
go to the bathroom and take off their shoes without an adult doing it for them.
Children may have classroom jobs and take pride in helping out in the
classroom. Learning new skills helps builds confidence.
A quality early childhood education
provides children with cognitive, behavioral and social skills they cannot
learn at home. Teachers find it easier to teach a child who possesses a strong
preschool education background in language skills, listening comprehension,
attention management skills, and a positive attitude toward learning.