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If you have a pre-school aged child you are probably wondering whether to send your child to pre-school. There are basically two schools of thought on the pre-school issue, one being that children should spend their pre-school years learning through play and that they will be in school soon enough, after which they will be in school always. Many parents like to have this special time to themselves to spend time with their child before he is gone 5 days a week. The other camp on pre-school believes that pre-school gives children an advantage in school and will help them to excel when they do start. These parents want their children to be on top, socialized with other children, or they are using pre-school as a daycare alternative.
The truth is, preschool really is not necessary for a child’s success in school. Children can be socialized in programs for pre-schoolers like gymnastics, play groups, or just having friends on the block. There is no evidence that children in pre-school learn faster than those who have not attended and if a child is not ready to learn something, he is not going to learn it any faster by being introduced to it early. The reason that children start kindergarten at a certain age is because this is the age that children are ready to learn basic ideas such as letters and numbers. Basically, the only thing your child would gain in pre-school is a general idea of how school works, how to raise his hand, how to respect the teacher, how to take turns.
Pre-school can be a good idea, however, if your child has too much energy and imagination for you to keep up with. Often, a rambunctious child can benefit greatly from the structure of pre-school, even if it is only a few days per week. Pre-school can help to channel their energy if you are at a loss to do it. Parents can invent activities for their over-active child, however and if you use your imagination you can discover many things for them to do that are both educational and keep them in their seat for longer than a minute or two.
The incidents of illness in children who attend pre-school is an important factor to examine as your child will be bringing home everything under the sun. It is difficult to keep germs contained in a room full of little ones who are constantly contracting different contagious maladies from head lice to chicken pox. Be prepared for the extra sick days if you are going to send your child to pre-school. Of course, when your child starts elementary school, he will be bringing home all kinds of illnesses as well, but he will be a little older and less likely to be affected as severely by sickness.
Don’t be intimidated by teachers, friends or relatives who try to convince you that your child will be at a disadvantage if he does not attend pre-school. Kindergarten is designed to teach children the beginning steps of learning and pre-school is not considered as a universal given as of yet. Schools still have to do the work as if the child has never seen the alphabet in his life. The real work of school doesn’t start until first grade. Have your child play with other children often, read to him, play games and enjoy this special time that you will never have back again. If you work full-time, pre-school could be an alternative for you but don’t push your child too hard!
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