"Children who attend high-quality early childhood education programs are 50% more likely to graduate from high school." I know that to many, kindergarten is the first stepping-stone in a child's life—their debut in an educational learning environment.
Kindergarten has great authority over the development of a child's cognitive, social, and emotional skills. I realize that children play in kindergarten, but let's address the cognitive skills development—and I'm eager to listen to the dissension. Reading in kindergarten is a denomination to teach problem-solving. Much harder than I once thought, but much of the content children learn will come from a teacher and a limited group (circle).
The Role of Play-Based Learning in Child Development
Play-based learning denotes a school of thought or educational methodology that advocates the use of play for children’s learning. It is a term that embodies various teaching principles such as child-centered learning, active engagement, and a “purposeful play”-based curriculum, among other ideas. This teaching method posits that children are allowed to—in fact, encouraged to—investigate, experiment, try out, and retread material at their pace. It aims to create thoughtful, lifelong learners, thus imbuing children with the skills needed for learning in their later years at school.
Social Skills Development in Kindergarten
Kindergarten is also where many children get the chance to be around the same children on a daily basis. It’s one thing to teach your child to share; it’s another thing for a child to learn to communicate in such a way that they can convince other children when they should get their turn in a play setting.
The Impact of Kindergarten on Long-Term Development
Research has consistently found that attending kindergarten brings significant, long-lasting advantages to individual children's academic success and social-emotional development. Children who go to kindergarten are more prepared for primary school academic content and are often further along in their literacy and numeracy skills. Experiencing the structured yet playful environment of a kindergarten helps them learn how to get along with others and develop the social skills of cooperation.
Kindergartens also serve a valuable social function in their local areas by supporting families and helping build community. For many of us, kindergarten was the first place we took daily naps away from home. Parents also need the help they receive from their children spending time in a safe, trusted place while they are at work. Making schools welcoming, supportive places for parents leads to that all-important characteristic of successful schools: engaging parents in their children's learning.
Kindergarten is not just important. It's crucial to thirsty young learners that are clearly not old enough yet to access traditional teaching. So rather than focus on the tough that is school right now, think where your kids' kindergarten is going to take them soon.