Many parents are afraid that their children are too young to be enrolled in a kindergarten program. Some fear that their children won't be able to cope with being separated from them. However, a lot of studies have shown that kindergarten exposes young children to letters, numbers and shapes. More importantly, children develop emotional and social skills and learn how to communicate and share with other children. Here is an overview of some of the benefits of taking your child to kindergarten.
Social and Emotional Skills
At kindergarten, a child mingles with other kids, teachers, and the school staff. It is better than home where a child has the company of only their parents and a few family members. Exposure to many people improves a child's social and emotional skills.
Some of the social and emotional skills that children learn at kindergarten include forming a rapport with peers and initiating conversations. Children also learn how to follow instructions and obey rules by teachers. Kindergarten is also a good place for children to learn how to regulate their emotions and display appropriate behaviour.
Nurtures a Child's Curiosity and Boosts Numeracy and Literacy Skills
Kindergarten teachers pay attention to children's ideas. To nurture the child's curiosity, educators use these ideas to develop tasks that enable the child to exercise their creativity. The teachers also use simple events, like a child's discovery of a spider in the playing field, and turn them into an opportunity to learn.
Young children have an increasing need for numeracy and literacy skills. Educators develop a variety of activities to prepare children for the academic challenges of school. For example, sorting, matching and counting games build a child's understanding of numbers, sequences and categories, which supports their math learning. Putting puzzles together encourages children to spot patterns, solve problems, and plan ahead.
Responsibility and Independence
Kindergarten trains children to be responsible and helps them develop independence. The child develops a sense of self-worth as they learn how to care for themselves and others. The teachers respond to the children's sense of responsibility by giving them simple tasks like watering plants or setting the table.
Children are taught to wash their hands before taking their morning snacks, to keep their belongings in the lockers and to put things away. Throughout their years in school, much of a child's learning takes place in the company of their peers. This is one reason kindergarten helps children become responsible and independent.
