Preschool is an important time for learning in every young child’s life. However, the decision of whether or not to enroll in a preschool is voluntary. Many families opt to keep their children home instead, but there are quite a few solid benefits in enrolling your child in a preschool program.
Here are some of the top benefits of enrolling your child in a preschool program this new year.
Preparing for School
One of the most important reasons for enrolling your child into a preschool is to prepare them for school. Part of this education is academics. They will learn about colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and other foundational concepts they’ll need throughout their entire life. They’ll be ahead of their peers when it comes to learning these concepts in VPK or kindergarten simply because they have been exposed to these types of concepts before.
However, the preparation students receive in preschool goes beyond getting a headstart in academic concepts. Part of school readiness is knowing the expectations and rules. These are things like standing in line, sharing with peers, and raising their hands to ask questions or for assistance. Having these types of expectations established well ahead of kindergarten makes the transition easier to full-time school.
Preschool is a great time for children who have never attended a full-time daycare program to start socializing with peers. They can meet friends and navigate the waters of building fulfilling relationships with children their own age. It can be an important part of their social-emotional development.
People are predominantly social beings, even at an early age. A preschool program is the perfect environment to start learning basic social skills while also being able to enjoy social interactions and building relationships.
Many activities can help your child develop socially. In preschool, they can practice taking turns, sharing, and resolving interpersonal conflicts. Cooperation and listening are important skills that will serve them well throughout their life.
Promoting Independence
One of the most essential but overlooked skills that your child will need going into school is a level of independence and self-management. Even at a young age, being able to manage some of their own needs, such as using their words and speaking up when needed, makes a big difference in your child’s ability to thrive in a school setting.
Adults are used to these situations and can take action to address their needs, but young children need to develop these skills. Something as simple as being able to say “I’m hungry” or “I have to potty” are big steps forward in understanding their needs and getting help when they need it. In Preschool, they can practice skills that help them learn how to care for themselves, including recognizing their needs and taking the appropriate actions to resolve issues.
Preschools are structured classrooms that also let preschoolers develop a sense of independence. Your child can learn a level of self-control and be responsible for addressing their own needs while also being under the care of skilled teachers and care providers who can help them.
New Experiences
Enrolling in a preschool program opens your child up to new experiences, which are vital for promoting overall growth. Preschool is filled with opportunities to explore new things with different people. Throughout those new experiences, your child can learn things that will shape their understanding of the world in new ways.
This goes beyond academics or social development. There are plenty of things to learn through experiences that we take for granted every day. For example, driving to preschool every day gives your child a chance to learn about where you live and what lies between your home and the preschool.
At preschool, a simple experience like holding construction paper can show a child many different things, like textures and how paper bends, that adults are more than familiar with, but it can change what kids think about the things around them. Giving your child many of these experiences is a great way to expand their minds and open up new ways of thinking, even if they are not directly tied to academics, social skills, or language. It is all of these unseen, unspoken experiences that mold your child’s brain in ways that they can only learn by doing.
Preschool Promotes Language Development
Being in an environment where talking is encouraged can help your child quickly develop language skills. They will use their words more often to ask for things and tell teachers what they need or how they feel. This helps them learn to speak up when they need something, which can be difficult to develop at home.
More than that, interacting with other children means that they can learn to do things collaboratively, which requires a stronger use of language. Young children also learn from their peers, making a reputable preschool program a great place to develop new, language-focused experiences.
Benefits for Parents
While most of this article focuses on the benefits preschool has on children, preschool can offer some significant benefits for parents, too. Preschool attendance can help prevent caregiver burnout. While babies and toddlers are home full-time, it can be very overwhelming and challenging to get other things done. When children attend preschool, this can give a much-needed break to caregivers who may otherwise suffer from a lack of time.
In some cases, parents might decide to go back to work, even part-time, as a result of having their child enrolled in preschool. This could enable families to earn more, which could be a good thing to pay for extracurricular activities and other household needs.
A Top Rated Preschool Program in Tamarac
At JLP Inspiring Minds Preschool, we’re proud to be a high-quality preschool provider in South Florida. If you’re interested in enrolling your child in preschool, we’d love to talk. Contact us through our online contact form or call (954) 933-2982 to learn more about the admissions process.