Common Questions about Early Childhood Education

If you’re wondering whether you should invest in your child’s future through early childhood education, the answer is yes.

Once you understand the importance of early education, it’s time to choose a preschool program that meets your child’s needs.

Here are some common questions surrounding the topic of early childhood education:

Q: What are the different types of early childhood education?

A: There are two main routes parents might choose to take when it comes to early childhood education.

Some parents decide to homeschool or join a co-op with other parents and children, while others enroll their child in a preschool.

In addition, most preschools have a specific learning philosophy.

For example, Reggio Emilia is one common education philosophy, which inspires the proprietary Creatively Shine™ curriculum at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse & Preschool®. This Italian philosophy aims to foster children’s curiosity and creativity to help them cultivate a lifelong passion for learning and exploration.

When touring facilities, be sure to ask about the learning philosophy and do your research.

Q: How will preschool prepare my child for kindergarten?

A: A quality preschool will help your child learn the academic skills necessary to give them a successful start to kindergarten.

Look for a defined curriculum with structured lesson plans. Teachers should select a variety age-appropriate activities that encourage cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.

• Basic math skills like counting and recognizing numbers
• Recognizing letters, reading and writing
• Learning how to describe observations or tell a simple story
• Drawing, coloring and creating visual art assignments

Some preschools also include additional enrichment activities like dance, soccer, yoga, foreign language, sign language, music and computer skills.

Hands-on learning experiences, both indoors and out, encourage preschoolers to interact with their peers, which promote social and emotional development.

• Working collaboratively with others
• Sharing
• Creative problem solving
• Communicating one’s feelings appropriately

Q: How will early childhood education help my child in later years?

A: The benefits of early childhood education extend to more than just your child’s preschool years.

• One recent study found that preschool increases high school graduation rates by 11 percent.
• Another study revealed that children who attended preschool had significantly lower discipline referrals in elementary school and scored higher on math and reading tests.

Are you looking for a preschool that values the importance of early childhood education?

Find a Little Sunshine’s Playhouse near you and contact us today! We believe nourishing children’s wonder and curiosity to help create lifelong learners.