Why pre-school is so, so important …

With Fall sign-ups about to happen, if they haven't already begun, parents need to think about whether they, and their child, may be ready for preschool.

How important is it for your child to begin academic readiness prior to entering elementary school?

Some parents believe that pre-kindergarten programs simply provide their children with an educational edge. But, the real truth is that the early years are so important to learning that parents should focus on getting their child into an early education program, as early as possible, instead of just worrying about college. According to new research, children who attend preschool have the best chance at a prosperous working life. Quality child care and preschool can help raise the intelligence levels of young children and is of greater benefit to their long-term future and earning potential than later interventions.

In a recent interview in the Chattanooga Times, David Kelley, a director of the Tennessee Head Start program, said parents should think about it. “Their child came into this world, and less than two years later, are speaking a complex language and doing complex tasks. It is just amazing what goes on in early months ...”

Most educators now believe that early childhood experiences are critical to the emotional and intellectual development of a child. During these early years, 80- to 90% of brain growth is completed. Learning to read and write is a process that actually begins at birth, called Emergent Literacy. Baby’s brains are wired to learn and how they learn to speak and read is a complex process that takes years. Babies even begin to learn to develop the skills they need for writing. Giving them a rattle, for example, helps them build the strength and coordination they’ll need later to write.

From birth on, we grow and learn because our biology is programmed to do so, meaning that it's in our child’s genetic makeup (nature) and because their social and physical environment provides stimulation (nurture). Infants and toddlers learn about themselves and their world during interactions with others. Brain connections that lead to later success grow out of nurturing, supportive and predictable care. This type of care-giving fosters child curiosity, creativity and self-confidence. Young children need safety, love, conversation and a stimulating environment to develop and keep important synapses in the brain.

"Children who attend high-quality pre-school enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not," says W. Steven Barnett, PhD., National Director for Early Education Research.

Yours in caring,
Ms. Dana Chibbaro, owner / operator