Long Island Preschool and Early Childhood Education Programs are an opportunity for your child to experience the growth, sharing and early foundation they will need for the learning that will happen in elementary school and beyond.
Preschool prepares children for kindergarten and can be the beginning of a successful school “career.”
With so much pressure on school performance, many parents are unsure of where their preschool priorities should be. A well rounded early childhood education program will offer children a good academic foundation as well as social, play and creativity development. The preschool’s activities should be in sync with the child’s individual emotional, cognitive and physical abilities.
Top Benefits to Selecting a Good Preschool for Your Child
Social and Emotional Development
In order to learn, a young child needs to feel cared for and secure with a teacher or caregiver. With the right preschool, a 3-year-old child is able to spend time away from their parents and learn to build trusting relationships with adults outside the family. High-quality preschool programs nurture warm relationships among children, teachers and parents. And teachers build a close personal connection with each child in their care.
Providing Structure
A highly structured environment helps young children learn to make friends and play well with others. This doesn’t mean there are lots of rules or that adults constantly direct children’s activities. On the contrary, the structure of a high-quality preschool classroom is largely invisible to children. Classroom space is organized to encourage social interaction and minimize congestion and conflicts.
Learning to Make Good Choices
Children at a good Long Island preschool should have several choices of activities; a child who is wandering aimlessly is encouraged to choose the activities that interests him or her. Teachers should be alert to a child who can’t figure out how to enter other children’s play and may offer suggestions on ways to join the group.
Developing Self Worth
Children’s sense of competence and self-worth grow as they learn to take care of themselves and help others. Preschool teachers appeal to a young child’s desire to engage in “real work” by offering chances to help out in the classroom. They may, for example, have the child set the table at snack time or feed the classroom pet. Children will learn to wash their hands before snack time, keep personal belongings in their “cubby,” and put away toys before moving to a new activity.
Improve Language & Cognitive Skills
Preschool-age children’s language skills are nurtured. Between the ages of 3 and 5, a child’s vocabulary grows 300 percent and sentences become longer and more meaningful. Preschool teachers can help children develop their language skills by asking questions and introducing new words during science, art, snack time and other activities. Children should have many opportunities to sing, talk, read and play many hands-on activities that challenge them and encourage problem solving.
Encourage Imagination
Preschool-age children have active imaginations and learn through make-believe and play. Preschool teachers know that the line between reality and fantasy is often not clear but imagination fuels learning. The “make believe” play area in a quality preschool may be well-stocked with costumes and child-size household items to help children develop from solitary play to group play.
Develop Literacy Skills
Matching games, sorting games, counting games, and board games build children’s understanding of number, categories and sequence, which supports later math learning. These are some of the basics that can encourage a lifetime love of learning. Putting together puzzles encourages children to notice shapes, patterns and colors while planning and problem-solving. Many high-quality preschool and child care programs introduce early literacy and math skills through activities that are interesting and meaningful to children.
Improve Motor Skills
Young children are all about “perpetual motion.” A high-quality preschool allows children to run, climb and play active games, all of which help develop motor skills,. Many of these activities help build good posture, healthy movement, hand-eye coordination and balance.
Good Long Island Preschools Set Your Child Up for Success
When you choose a high-quality preschool program that suits your child’s needs and family dynamics, you can feel assured that your child is well cared for, is enjoying activities and making friends — and is building the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in kindergarten and well beyond!
