Everyone probably has an idea of the stereotypical frenzy to get your child into an elite preschool: waiting lists, interviews, competition, etc. Even if you live in a region where there aren’t many options, you no doubt still have an idea from media portrayals. An episode of Modern Family springs to mind, and there is a documentary called Nursery University showing how this all plays out in New York City.¹ Is this craziness and competition for finding the right preschool really necessary? Is preschool really necessary? There are a couple schools of thought. Some wonder if it’s really worth the money, and you may be thinking, is it worth taking your child away from you or another trusted caregiver?

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Studies have been done, following children over decades, and what they show is interesting. In children from middle- and upper-class families, there are not many differences between children who have and have not attended preschool.^2,3 However, the benefits of preschool are “particularly essential for those kids from the most disadvantaged households,”² and what they gain lasts “with greater strength when they attend high-quality preschools and then enter comparatively robust elementary schools.”³ The Early Head Start program was actually started to serve this population and provides children with an enriched environment for learning and parents with information and services.⁴ This can be a high-quality option, especially if other preschools are not available.

Benefits of Preschool:

That’s not to say that there isn’t something to gain from attending preschool. According to the Children’s Health Council,⁵ preschool provides children with a number of benefits:

• Self and Social Development: Children are exposed to other children, which lets them practice a variety of social skills, such as taking turns, cooperating, sharing, and expressing empathy, as well as forming friendships.
• Language and Literacy Development: Children have the opportunity to practice more language, both listening and speaking. They are often also exposed to letters, sounds, and print materials.
• Cognitive Development: Through the materials of the classroom, which may be more directed than what is available at home, and interaction with others, children get to exercise skills, such as problem-solving, persistence, curiosity, and cause-and-effect, while building their memory and general knowledge.
• Mathematical Development: Children often start learning about numbers and counting, as well as shapes, patterns, and measurement.
• Physical Development: Preschool usually includes plenty of opportunities for physical activity, which develops their motor skills, core strength, and balance.
• Health: Through the daily routines of preschool, children learn about health and hygiene, including activities such as hand-washing, caring for their belongings, and caring for the school’s materials. They’ll also learn about personal safety, and often subjects like healthy eating are introduced.

Finding the Right Preschool Type:

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that you are your child’s first teacher and that the love, trust, and guided exploration of the world you give her from the day she’s born will give her the best start possible. If preschool is something you’re interested in, whether for an alternative to day care or the educational benefits, you still have a decision ahead of you. There are many different preschool philosophies and curricula, and most likely they will guide your choice of where to send your child. Here’s a summary of some of the leading types of preschools available in the United States:

• Montessori:^6,7,8 The Montessori philosophy is “follow the child,” and the method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over 100 years ago. Today, Montessori schools ranging in age level from infant-toddler programs up through high school can be found all over the world. Classrooms typically accommodate a three-year age range, so a “preschool” classroom has 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. This lets older children help the younger ones, while younger children are inspired by their older classmates. Children work independently, or in small groups, at tasks of their choosing. There are typically five learning areas: sensory awareness, language, mathematics, cultural, and practical life, where children practice everyday skills, such as pouring, stirring, and pincer grasp, which develop their fine motor skills. Dr. Montessori designed the materials for use in her classrooms, many of which were made to be self-correcting.
• HighScope:^7,8,9 Interestingly, the HighScope system was originally developed for at-risk children and is used in Head Start and other settings. Children are actively involved in their learning, which falls into ten categories: creative representation, language, social relations, movement, music, classification, seriation, numbers, space, and time. They make learning choices based on following their interests with a “plan-do-review sequence,”⁸ and teachers give them the support to follow through on their plans. In addition to independent work, there is time for small and large group lessons.
• Waldorf:^7,8,10 The Waldorf program was started in Stuttgart, Germany by Rudolph Steiner, who believed there are three parts to a person (spirit, soul, and body), and his goal in educating children was to develop and nurture these three aspects. The daily routine is predictable with many practical activities, such as cooking and gardening, and emphasizes cooperation, the outdoors, and creative free play. Teachers often stay with the same class for a number of years and hope to develop a child’s love of learning.
• International Baccalaureate (IB):¹¹ Not surprisingly, part of the IB program is to help children develop “international-mindedness,” which includes concern about themselves, others, the planet, and how the world works. This is done through six learning areas: language, social studies, mathematics, arts, science, and physical, social, and personal education. Students are encouraged to be independent and cooperative and develop their personal values.
• Tools of the Mind:^12,13,14 This program was developed by Dr. Elena Bodrova and Dr. Deborah Leong of Metropolitan State University of Denver based on Lev Vygotsky’s theories. Vygotsky believed that initially a child’s learning came from her environment, but once she masters her mental tools, she will be in charge of her own learning. Students use Play Plans to describe what they’ll be doing and help encourage self-regulation and executive function (the ability to focus, analyze, plan, take action and complete different tasks).¹⁵ There is a focus on Dramatic Play as well as drawing as a first step to writing and making their initial Play Plans. Scaffolding by teachers helps students complete tasks in their individual Zone of Proximal Development, described as being the area between what a child can do on her own and what she can do with help.

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Play Tips:

Do you want to know how you can support your child’s development by selecting the right preschool? It’s easy! Read on for some simple tips on how to find a great preschool that fits her development needs and learning style.

1. Observe classrooms and attend open houses, with or without your child. Visiting a classroom can give you a better idea of how each type of program works. Look at what types of programs are available in your area, and if they do not have an open house scheduled in the near future, ask about visiting or observing a classroom in action. Many programs will let your child join in for your visit or during an open house, and it will let you see how she interacts with the teacher(s), classroom, and the materials.
2. Look for school environments and cultures that your child will thrive in. You know your child best, from her weaknesses to her strengths, interests, temperament, and learning styles. While school philosophies and reputations are important to keep in mind, so is finding the right environment, pace of learning, and teacher-student support that will help your child build her love of learning and reach for the stars.

Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following Approaches to Learning developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) she has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

• Reaches age and maturity for many preschool programs.

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Sources:

¹Chan, Sewell (2008). Nursery School Frenzy, Caught on Film. The New York Times: City Room, Blogging from the Five Boroughs. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/making-sense-of-the-nursery-admissions-craze/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0.

²Lehrer, Jonah (2012). Does Preschool Matter? Wired Science Blogs: Frontal Cortex.Retrieved March 31, 2014, from http://www.wired.com/2012/03/does-preschool-matter/.

³Fuller, Bruce (2014). Preschool Is Important, But It’s More Important for Poor Children. Washington Post: Opinions. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/preschool-is-important-but-its-more-important-for-poor-children/2014/02/09/79ff4ab4-8e96-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html.

⁴Head Start. About Early Head Start. Office of the Administration for Children and Families, Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center: Head Start. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/ehsnrc/Early%20Head%20Start/about.html.

⁵Levinkron, Lilach. The Importance of Preschool. Children’s Health Council. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.chconline.org/the-importance-of-preschool.

⁶American Montessori Society. Introduction to Montessori. American Montessori Society.Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://amshq.org/Montessori-Education/Introduction-to-Montessori.aspx.

⁷Brown, Laura Lewis. Comparing Preschool Philosophies: Montessori, Waldorf, and More. PBS Parents: Education. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/comparing-preschool-philosophies-montessori-waldorf-and-more/.

⁸Robledo, S. Jhoanna. The Top Preschool Programs and How They Differ. BabyCenter: Expert Advice. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-top-preschool-programs-and-how-they-differ_64635.bc.

⁹HighScope. All about HIghScope – FAQs. HighScope: Inspiring Educators to Inspire Children. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=291.

¹⁰Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Waldorf Education: An Introduction. Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/02_W_Education/index.asp.

¹¹International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB Primary Years Program. International Baccalaureate Organization. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.ibo.org/pyp/ .

¹²Tools of the Mind. Vygotskian Approach. Tools of the Mind. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.toolsofthemind.org/philosophy/vygotskian-approach/.

¹³Tools of the Mind. Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding. Tools of the Mind.Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.toolsofthemind.org/philosophy/scaffolding/.

¹⁴Tools of the Mind. Preschool. Tools of the Mind. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.toolsofthemind.org/curriculum/preschool/.

¹⁵Stanberry, Kristin. Executive Function: A New Lens for Viewing Your Child. Great Schools. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/1017-executive-function-lens-to-view-your-child.gs.

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Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee

Playful Bee is an e-Preschool that delivers inquiry-based preschool learning from the classroom to your home. Our preschool curriculum was created by our talented team of rock star teachers. With years of hands-on preschool and Kindergarten teaching experience, they've developed a high-quality preschool experience that is convenient-to-use and easy-to-teach by you, grandparents, or your nanny at home.

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