Experts in early childhood development have observed a growing trend among parents who believe that preschool is the optimal environment for their children's learning. At Children Learn through Play, we are big supporters of preschool! But the belief that preschool will exclusively provide all necessary foundational skills for a child's development is not entirely accurate.
While preschool undoubtedly provides an excellent opportunity for children to enhance their social skills and adjust to a classroom setting, experts are worried that the widespread belief that "children learn best at preschool" could have negative consequences for children.
Let's look at why these early childhood experts are worried:
The short answer - We know in the early stages of life, children learn best from their parents.
Parents serve as the first and most influential teachers in a child's life during the early years. The way parents interact with their children can profoundly impact their development. From birth, a child's brain is rapidly developing, with the majority of neural connections forming in the first few years of life. Early experiences shape the brain and lay the foundation for future learning and cognitive abilities. Which means that waiting for preschool to take the responsibility for teaching children instead of actively engaging in their education at home can have significant implications for a child's development.
Here's more information on how parents are primary teachers for their children:
Language acquisition and communication begins long before preschool age, with infants actively listening to and absorbing the language spoken around them. Parents are huge influencers for their child's language development through talking, reading, singing, and engaging in conversations. These interactions build vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills that are essential for academic success and social interaction.
Emotional regulation and socialization begin with secure attachments, empathetic responses, and positive role modeling with parents in infancy. While preschool offers opportunities for peer interaction, parents teach their children essential social and emotional skills such as empathy, self-regulation, conflict resolution, and perspective-taking. These skills form the basis for healthy relationships, emotional well-being, and success in social settings both inside and outside of school.
Values, beliefs, and cultural traditions that shape a child's moral and ethical development are taught to children by their parents. Through modeling behavior, discussing moral dilemmas, and reinforcing positive character traits, parents instill a sense of integrity, responsibility, and compassion in their children. These values are used for ethical decision-making and social responsibility throughout life.
Individualized attention and support can best be provided through one-on-one interactions with the child. Every child is unique, with their own strengths, interests, and learning styles. Parents provide individualized attention and tailored support to meet their child's specific needs, abilities, and preferences that cannot always be achieved in the preschool group setting.
You can see that parents serve as the first and most influential teachers in a child's life during the early years. Their guidance, support, and interactions lay the groundwork for a child's cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development, shaping their trajectory for learning and success. Waiting for preschool to take on the primary responsibility of teaching children can be a missed opportunity for parents to actively engage in their child's learning and development. While preschool can offer valuable learning experiences and socialization opportunities, parents should not defer their role as primary educators to preschool alone.
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