6 Reasons Early Learning Programs and Preschool Benefit Your Child

Your child’s brain develops the most between birth and five years of age, making all of their experiences during these early years crucial for all future learning. And we aren’t talking just about setting them up for academic success. High-quality early learning provides them with the emotional and social skills to tackle -- and conquer -- all other challenges as well.

Learning doesn’t start when your child is four years old, which is why parents needs to be intentional about finding a child care program and other experiences that offer rich and nurturing activities that spark your child’s natural curiosity and support their social-emotional growth. Some families choose to begin their child’s out of home learning and care with a preschool program at age three or with Pre-Kindergarten at age four. Regardless of how early you start your child’s early learning program, here are some ways that high-quality programs help your child thrive later in life.

1. Preschool supports social and emotional development

Children learn early on how to interact with their peers, read social cues, and how to deal with their emotions and express themselves. High-quality child care programs understand their role in helping to nurture children’s relationships and provide teachable moments around solving conflicts, managing frustrations, and showing compassion.

2. Children learn to care for themselves and others

When given tasks and expectations that are important to their well-being and that of their friends’, it helps to build their sense of competence and self-worth as well as underscores their importance in the community. Experienced teachers help children become more independent and be a resource to their classmates in order to build skills that will help them function successfully. 

3. High-quality early learning promotes early literacy and math skills

Developing these important early literacy and math skills does not mean paper worksheets or rote memorization. Instead, teachers help children become excited about learning and offer language-rich environments such as a variety of books that are easily accessible to children, read-aloud story times with discussion of the book, examples of letters, and writing throughout the class. Activities such as sorting and matching games, talking about patterns, learning music beats, and counting together are fun ways to bring math skills into the everyday experience.

4. Child care and preschool programs help in motor skill development

Teachers understand the value of movement. Not only is it good for helping children release energy, but teachers plan activities to support fine motor skills, such as cutting with scissors or threading beads, as well as large motor skills like running and climbing that promote balance and coordination.

5. Early learning programs foster imagination

Children learn best through play, and by using their imaginations and creativity they become great problem-solvers and are more motivated to learn. High-quality child care and learning programs will provide materials like dress up clothes and costumes, imaginary play areas like kitchens or pretend store fronts, as well as house hold items like pots and pans, cardboard boxes, tape, and empty containers that can be turned into whatever the child pretends it is that day.

 6. Preschool programs prepare for academic success

Child care programs and Pre-Ks that are high-quality understand the skills children need that are important for kindergarten readiness and work to support their development while balancing a child’s play time. By providing structure, organizing space and activities that facilitate children’s learning, and supporting all of the benefits listed above, children are prepared to participate and succeed in school.

"Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not," says National Institute for Early Education Research Director W. Steven Barnett, PhD.

Have questions about finding a high-quality early learning and child are program, preschool, or Pre-K program?

Quality Care for Children has Referral Specialists who can provide free searches based on your criteria to help you find a program that works for your family. Call us at 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS (877-255-4254).

You can also visit QualityRated.org to learn more or search for a child care program online or find out more about Georgia’s Free Pre-K program here.