Why is preschool important?
For many children, preschool is the first time they become acquainted with structured learning environments and large group learning. It becomes not only an opportunity to expose children to multiple learning activities and learning environments, but it’s also in an important part of socialization.
“Socialization is one of the biggest benefits of preschool, and it supports emotional and academic growth," says Jaime Peyton, director of Montreat Morning School. "For us, socialization is the key. If a student is well-adjusted in a classroom setting, then they will be able to learn academics, make friends, take on challenges, changes in routine and so on with more ease and confidence”
Asheville Community Action Opportunities Head Start offered this list of advantages of early childhood education and preschool:
- Preschool lays the foundations for success in school and life
- Preschool enhances social-emotional competence
- Preschool can support a child’s motivation to learn—and pique their curiosity!
- High quality early care and learning builds a bridge between the home-school connection and lay the foundation for parents and teachers in future educational experiences
Preschool has become more important than ever as kindergarten requires students to meet higher national standards and achieve higher competencies for promotion.
“The curriculum in kindergarten covers an extensive amount of academics," says Black Mountain Primary kindergarten teacher Terri Covington. "Therefore, if children do not attend preschool they are behind both socially and academically.
"There is so much to cover," she says, referring to the North Carolina state standards from the Department of Public Instruction, "that students who do not enter kindergarten with the preschool skills they are often considered below grade level. This can lead to a trend of them playing catch up and never really grasping the skill required.”
The skills, routines and pre-literacy development of preschool becomes an integral part of student development and success later.
“Many children's preschool experience prepares them with learning letters, sounds and numbers," Covington says, adding that, "Preschool focuses on learning through play, which help them interact with their peers. This ensures that these students are ready for the academics.”
Basic school routines developed in preschool can be significant to later student success.
“If a student has already mastered being dropped off, being without parents for a few hours, sitting still in a circle, following directions, sharing and getting along with others, and have learned letter and number basics, then the foundations are in place for academic growth to take place now and later down the line,” Peyton says.
Children who do not attend preschool can be at risk for success in future grades.
“Students who are lacking in preschool experience are often considered for retention or leave kindergarten below grade level," Covington says. "Oral language skills are one of the deficits we see in children who do not attend preschool. Students with preschool experience are better prepared in listening to books and retelling stories, which helps when they start reading. It is essential that students get the foundational building blocks of reading to ensure they are successful in life."
As Director Peyton concludes, “Preschool is of the utmost importance to have a successful transition into kindergarten. I think that we all know that kindergarten expectations have changed over the years and with that there comes a certain expectation of children upon entering kindergarten. If we can assist a child in being able to confidently enter elementary school so that they can learn and grow then I feel that we are helping, not only our students, but their parents and their future teachers as well. We need to act as one community with the same end goal of ushering in a confident generation of learners."