As a parent, there are so many decisions and considerations that need to be made. From choosing the right diet to finding the right hobbies and activities to help your child’s progression, it can be so hard to know what to prioritize. Despite this, there is one thing that has long been acknowledged to be absolutely vital for all children, and that is education.
Making the right education and learning choices for your child is so important for ensuring that they get all of the necessary developmental and intellectual input which they need to progress, as well as the human and social contact they need to develop their personality and their ability to function within society as they grow older. Different countries begin formal education at different ages, and there are various schools of thought which advocate conflicting theories about when the best time to start education is.
In this article, we will explain the benefits of early learning that every parent needs to know.
1. An Easy Introduction to Education
The first benefit of enrolling your child into early learning classes is that it is an easy introduction for your child into education. The education experts on this page explain that the transition for kids who are used to just being at home with their parents and siblings into the more structured and unfamiliar environment of school can be extremely stressful. In most countries, first grade is a six-hour day, a massive upheaval in a child’s life, but early learning environments such as a kindergarten or nursery help slowly ease children into it. The days tend to be two to three hours with mostly playtime and an emphasis placed on taking children out of their comfort zone in a controlled, empathetic way, which can significantly increase their ability to cope with the eventual progression into elementary school.
2. More Familiarity With New People
For many young children, their everyday world is very limited in terms of the number of people they interact with regularly. As well as their parents, many young children only really interact with siblings, grandparents, or other members of their extended families. This then makes the sudden introduction of tens of new people into their lives a potentially overwhelming experience. Whilst some children take it in their stride, other children can find it very difficult to suddenly be in a classroom with thirty other students plus an unfamiliar adult teacher who is instructing them to do new things. Early learning classes tend to have small classes that slowly introduce children to new people so that they are not wary of all the strangers they will encounter when they start school and give them the important social skills that children need to empathise and make new friends.
3. An Introduction to Rules and Discipline
Different parents choose to raise their children in different ways. While some parents choose to instill strict discipline from an early age, others allow their children more freedom. While you can choose which school your child attends, you cannot completely dictate the teaching style they will receive there. By enrolling your child in early learning classes, they will become accustomed to a style of discipline and a set of rules which are different from those at home. Children learn from experience, so by exposing them to various new teachers and teaching styles at an early age, they will be far more equipped to deal with full-time elementary education.
4. Fundamental Educational Skills
The early years of development are so important and set the foundations for your child to grow and progress. While we are all conscious as parents of our children’s physical and cognitive development, it can be challenging to know how much to push education skills like reading and writing on them at a young age. Qualified early learning teachers know exactly how to slowly introduce these skills to young children so that they have the maximum impact and allow them to progress at the ideal rate.
It is never an easy decision about when to introduce your child to education. It is very important to remember that entering your child into a kindergarten or nursery does not mean they are going to be sitting down behind a desk, reading difficult paragraphs, or attempting complex math. Early learning is all about boosting your child’s natural development and preparing them for their future in education. It can be hard to let our children go out into the world and move onto the next stage of their life, but it is also so rewarding to let them go. Keep this article in mind and research the early learning options in your local area.