10 Good Reasons Your Child Should Attend Preschool

Valerie Le Baron - 23 Aug 18

In Australia preschool is defined as the final year (or 2 years) before a child enters formal primary schooling. When children attend preschool, they are usually between 4-5 years old, they have moved beyond toddlerhood but are not old enough for Kindergarten and will develop important skills that they need in that first year of schooling. The below are 10 reasons why your child will benefit from preschool.

Reason 1 – Social Learning and Interactions

It is no secret that children learn from those around them and the experiences they encounter. Preschool provides children with a valuable opportunity to practice their social skills as they communicate with their peers and educators all in a relaxed, familiar and supervised environment.

As cute and basic as these interactions may seem, mixing with other children and adults of authority not only builds fundamental social skills but also confidence they will carry with them throughout their lives!

Reason 2 – Opportunity for Academic Growth

Another benefit for your child to attend preschool is the opportunity for academic growth.

Early Childhood Teachers (ECT) are university qualified teachers and have undergone early education training and studies to ensure they teach young children according to best educational practices.

At preschool, children participate in what is called “intentional and meaningful teaching experiences” or commonly known as lessons. These intentional teaching experiences can explore the concepts of literacy, numeracy, scientific thinking, problem-solving and so much more and in ways that make academic learning fun for the little ones.

Giving pre-schoolers a head start academically will give them that extra boost of confidence when they step in kindergarten and are exposed to somewhat familiar concepts.

Reason 3 – Physical Environment and Activities

Preschool provides a varying range of physical activities, toys and games for the children to explore. Seek a preschool with a large outdoor play area where your child can explore and burn off energy whilst developing their gross motor skills and let their imaginations run wild. These purpose-built play-scapes and activities aim to support your child’s cognitive development and provide them with meaningful learning experiences while having fun.

The best early learning curriculum is play-based because children learn better when they play. Let them burn their energy before having to stand still in Kindy!

Reason 4 – Self Help Skills

 When a child attends preschool they learn how to do things for themselves and develop their self-help skills and independence. Teachers in a preschool environment will encourage children to serve their own lunches and feed themselves in order to increase this skill set.

The teachers will also encourage independence through basic health routines like washing hands and brushing teeth. These encourage learning environments to assist in developing your child’s increasing ability to self-help which ultimately promotes their confidence and sense of independence.

Reason 5 – Develop a Sense of Cultural Awareness

Preschools also provide opportunities for children to learn about their peers and the different cultures that make up their community. When children attend preschool, they are exposed to children that might come from different cultural backgrounds than their own or they may have classmates that speak a language other than English.

This exposure to different cultures and languages inevitably is developing children’s sense of cultural awareness and understanding.

In our multicultural society, it is important that children are educated on cultural awareness to promote a strong sense of belonging to a community, a culture, as well as a sense of well-being and self-worth.

Reason 6 – Children Will Become More Confident

It goes without saying that the preschool environment will challenge children in many ways – they will be challenged academically and socially.

They will learn and increase their confidence in each of these challenges and experiences as well as develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills.

Just before kindergarten starts, it is important that children have strong confidence in these skills and in themselves, so that they have a smoother transition into their next life milestone. Your child’s confidence can be gained at preschool through flexible and open-ended learning environments with their peers and teachers.

Reason 7 – Learn How to Be Team Players

Learning how to be a good team player involves being a great collaborator and communicator with our peers. It’s a skill as adults we can recognise in great leaders and colleagues.

The skill of being a good team player is one that your child will be developing through their entire schooling years and even into adulthood and in the workplace. The simple skill of being a good sharer is one that requires practice and often a lot of patience from parents and carers!

Preschool provides the first real-life situations where we begin to learn those team-player skills, like how to share with our friends, learn to allow others to speak and other collaborative skills.

Reason 8 – Prepare for Kindergarten

As mentioned earlier, preschool provides the opportunity for children to increase their self-confidence prior to kindergarten or kindy, so they can cope better with the transition.

A child is transitioning from being one of the eldest in the playground to one of the youngest in the playground. This can be daunting and intimidating for a lot of children.

The benefits of a preschool class is that many childcare providers might have a school readiness program and support is provided to parents, families and children in the lead up to kindy. Teachers will set-expectations for the children and prepare them socially and emotionally for this next big part of their lives.

Reason 9 – Provides Structure and Routine

 Sometimes it might not look like it, but preschool provides children with routine and structure. There are set times for meals, play, rest and learning. This prepares children for more formal schooling and manages their expectations for kindergarten. Effective routines will help make predicted transitions smooth for the children, for example moving from rest time into play time.

The structure and routine in a preschool room also supports in managing children’s expectations for themselves. For example, “when the bell rings we will be moving into morning tea”, which effectively means they are learning to control themselves in the routine.

 Reason 10 – Gives the Family a Break

Whether you are alone or have another child, sending your little one to preschool is not only beneficial for them for the above-mentioned reasons but it is also a great break for you!

You can spend much needed time on younger siblings whilst the other is at preschool, or you can catch up on chores, work, even get some me-time! All the while feeling confident and secure that your pre-schooler is managing and learning in an environment designed for their little minds.

It is important parents remember themselves every now and then. We are only human!

These are just 10 of the many good reasons why preschool is so beneficial for children. Essentially when a child is at preschool they are constantly in learning mode, whether they realise it or not because everything they do, see and hear are all moments of learning and observing.

Valerie Le Baron

Valerie Le Baron is an integral member of the Kids Club Early Learning Centre team. During her current tenure, she’s helped double the footprint of Kids Club’s centres by working closely with Operations, Kids Club’s Educational Directors as well as Carers. Kids Club’s geographic footprint currently includes a number of long day care centres in Sydney and Canberra. She’s also behind Kids Club’s external parent comms and behind the scenes of Kids Club TV.

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