Parents have many reasons for wanting to stay home with their children. It can save on childcare costs, let the parent make decisions about how the child spends their day, build relationships, let children explore the world at their own pace, let parents witness milestones, and let parents impart values to their children.
These are all beautiful reasons to stay home with your child. But if you’re planning on enrolling your child in public or private school, it is beneficial to give your child at least a year (or more!) of early childhood education before their first day of school.
Some of the benefits of early childhood education are simple: raising your hand before speaking, standing in a line, following a new schedule, and learning together as a group. But there’s more to early childhood education than learning the rules of kindergarten.
Brain Development
A child’s brain develops rapidly during the early years of their life and needs a constantly stimulating environment to grow and process new information and skills. Early childhood education programs support the brain’s development through structured and independent play. Children learn new skills through intentional teaching strategies that are often overlooked at home.
Social and Relationship Skills
Children need to learn how to interact with a variety of people, not just their own family members. Children with limited exposure to non-family members can be anxious and shy when starting school. This can lead to a myriad of problems that could have been prevented by giving them early exposure to other children and adults.
Early childhood education programs help children learn important social skills, such as making friends, sharing, cooperating, solving problems, and resolving conflicts. By the time your child is in kindergarten, these skills will be better integrated, so they can focus on learning.
Language and Communication Skills
Infants have no understanding of language and must learn language quickly. Often, babies can understand spoken language before their first birthday, even if they can’t reciprocate with language yet.
Young children have a tremendous ability to learn language. Their communication (both verbal and nonverbal!) is being actively formed. An early childhood development program like DAYCARE is carefully designed to enhance language development and communication skills through activities like storytelling and group play.
Cognitive Development
Quality early childhood education programs can improve your child’s cognitive development by providing extra opportunities for critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. These opportunities might come in group activities, crafts, or games. While cognitive development can happen in a home environment, a larger and diverse group of children provides more opportunities.
Children can also learn from each other and further develop cognitive skills. Children all solve problems differently, and this diversity of problem-solving skills is very beneficial for your child.
Physical Development
Quality early childhood education programs like Penguin Crossing Academy offer ample opportunities for physical activity. While sometimes it can be hard for parents to meet their child’s need for physical activity because loud play disrupts the baby sibling’s nap or the Zoom work meeting, at Penguin Crossing Academy, they can run and play with greater flexibility.
Penguin Crossing Academy also has an outdoor playground, which further develops their gross motor skills. Children will feel more confident in their physical capabilities and comfortable in their bodies.
School Preparation
While there are more benefits to an early childhood education program than school preparation, it’s undeniable that school preparation is a huge benefit!
Children who participate in an early childhood education program are independent and confident. They know basic rules like raising their hand to speak, standing in a line, waiting for the group to finish, and following a structured schedule. Learning these skills before starting kindergarten will help their first weeks of school go by smoothly and even boost their confidence because they already know proper school etiquette.
Enroll at Penguin Crossing Academy Today!
Penguin Crossing Academy offers an outstanding early childhood education program that prepares your child for kindergarten and beyond! Ready to get started? Contact us today!
