Preschool Is an Important Step to Kindergarten

Before your child goes to kindergarten, you may or may not decide to enroll them in preschool. If you are unsure, there are many good reasons to have your child attend preschool in preparation for the next step in their education. Your child is in a stage of life where their brains are rapidly developing, as they build their self-confidence, social skills, and rudimentary knowledge that prepares them for kindergarten. They are taking the world in like a sponge, which is why it is so important that they are exposed to as many educational opportunities as possible.

According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), in 2005 more than two-thirds of four-year-olds and more than 40 percent of three-year-olds were enrolled in preschool. Those parents who enrolled their children in preschool put them on a fast-track to learning.

There are many reasons for parents to enroll their children in preschool. Besides the fact that they begin to develop rudimentary learning skills by being exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes, they also get a head start on socializing skills as compared to their peers who do not attend preschool.

"Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time," says Angela Capone, PhD, senior program manager at Southwest Human Development's Arizona Institute for Childhood Development, in Phoenix.

Preschools in Vancouver, WA will prepare your child for kindergarten by teaching them how to be students. While other kids will just start their learning in kindergarten, a child who has attended preschool before attending kindergarten will already have experience as a student, which means they will know to raise their hands, respect others, and take turns.

Preschoolers come out of their time spent there with richer vocabularies, improved problem-solving skills, and a better likelihood to not only succeed later in life, but avoid major downfalls. Studies have shown that kids who attend preschool are:

- More likely to graduate from high school and go to college
- More capable of earning a higher income
- Less likely to be arrested or to be involved in a crime in the first place

While your child will learn so much in preschool, it is no so much about structure or rigid academic goals, as it is a way to explore their interests and above all else... have fun! Vancoucer, WA preschools are equipped to give your child the edge and head start they need in life. Just ask a parent who has seen their child blossom while attending one.