A preschool, also sometimes called playschool, provides early childhood education to children before they start primary school. It can be run by the government or by private institutions.
Kids learn to communicate verbally with others through cognitive, psychosocial, and physical development-based learning with the help of pre-schools.
Preschools focus on getting your child ready for school by teaching them social and academic skills. They are similar to nursery schools, daycares, and kindergartens, but they have different goals. Preschools (as well as nursery schools and other options) have different aims, teaching methods, cultures, and more. Preschool may not be the best choice for every child, but it works well for many.
Why preschool education is important?
The importance of preschool cannot be overstated enough. One of the biggest benefits of preschools is the environment and socialising opportunities that they provide. Children learn through play and communication, expressing themselves properly, sharing, following rules, maintaining hygiene, and napping. They also learn basic English, identifying letters, writing their name, phonics, and tracing letters.
In Math, they learn shapes, counting, tracing numbers, and basic math operations. In Science, they learn about weather, seasons, animals, and environmental habits. In Social Studies, they learn about places, public places, community workers, and everyday life. During breaks, they interact with peers, play games, and eat together.
Advantages of early childhood education-
Some of the advantages of early childhood education include:
Early Learning
Preschool provides young children with a head start in learning. A good program can help them develop important academic and pre-academic abilities. This gives them a great advantage when they enter school. Children in preschool typically learn various cognitive, social, and language skills.
It allows them to be in a structured setting
Preschool is often the first place where children experience structure, follow rules and learn from teachers and classmates.
It gets them ready for primary school
Preschool is essential for preparing children for elementary school. Learning important skills like rules and responsibilities early on can make the transition to Kindergarten smoother. Familiarity with a structured environment in preschool can greatly benefit children when they enter formal schooling.
Language development
Language development is a key reason why children go to school. Preschoolers tend to perform better on reading tests. This is because preschool involves a lot of activities like reading and singing, which help improve pre-literacy skills.
Social development
The importance of preschool is for children to learn how to control their emotions, such as anger. They need to be in a preschool environment where they can practice sharing and patience with their classmates. This helps them develop empathy for others.
Building Confidence
During preschool, kids do many things independently like washing their hands and organizing their stuff. Doing these tasks on their own helps them feel more confident.
It ignites a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime
Learning is a never-ending journey. Even adults are always learning. Preschool starts a learning process that never really ends. Children learn in fun ways in preschool, sparking their curiosity and turning them into lifelong learners.
Disadvantages of early childhood education-
Insufficient individual attention
Some believe that young kids should stay at home until they start formal schooling, as preschools have low teacher-to-student ratios. This means less personalised attention compared to being at home. However, it is widely accepted that at a certain age, usually four or five, kids need plenty of interaction with their peers to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Specific hours/days
The fixed hours and days of operation for daycare can have both pros and cons. Some preschools may not be open during holidays or summer break, leading to longer closure periods. This may not align with your work schedule, requiring you to find alternative arrangements that could be more costly.
Limitations on creativity and free exploration
Some people believe that sending children to preschool can restrict their learning and creativity by making them rely solely on their teacher for information. Kids who skip preschool, on the other hand, tend to explore a wider variety of information and possibilities.
Separation anxiety
It can be hard for some little kids to be away from their parents. They might need extra care and not feel ready for school. But for others, the worry goes away after a week or two, and they do well in preschool.
At Mother’s Pet Kindergarten, we strongly believe that preschool is essential for children’s early development. We believe when learning is fun, children are more interested and engaged for a longer time. At Mother’s Pet Kindergarten, every child is special, and we support their individuality and different learning styles.
