What is the primary purpose of preschool?

Question

is it to provide a strong academic foundation or to foster social and emotional development? why?

Answer 1

Preschool is extremely beneficial for early childhood development.  It provides both an academic and social foundation that can give a child a leg-up in future scholastic areas.  Children during the preschool years are growing so fast and have the ability to learn and grow in leaps and bounds.  A quality preschool and/or childcare center can give a youngster numerous experiences that only this type of environment can provide.  It is preparing them for a future of education and it is proven that children who attend preschool are more likely to go on to recieve a college education.  You may want to look into the First Five Association's web page..."The ultimate goal is to enhance the health and early growth experiences of children, enabling them to be more successful in school and to give them a better opportunity to succeed in life."  Here is a link...http://www.f5ac.org/item.asp?id=532 .   Another good source is the Head Start page at www.nhsa.org

Answer 2

Preschool help children learn to socialize, and they get a jump start before they go to kintergarden. In preschool children learn to read, do math, social studies, science just like when they are in kintergarden.

Answer 3

to foster social and emotional development. Some kids may need some academic help, too. The main need for preschool is to get used to the school setting, environment, schedule, sharing, team work. etc ...

Answer 4

The latter, because higher education levels focus more on the former.  Preschools are also more personal (fewer kids to a class, more "play" activities than book-pencil-paper ones), whereas elementary, intermediate and high schools are the opposite.  Also, children need to know how to interact with people outside of their families before they are forced to interact with people in "big school," and how keep emotional stability in the face of academic and social pressure.

Answer 5

they say that they want the kids to know their abc,how to add and subtract and know their name and address before they go to kindergarten.i think its rediculous to put a child in pre school.and i wouldn't sent mine to none of them.

Answer 6

I don't see a purpose because it is said to be for developing your child's social and emotional status, but I think that it is just putting children in school too young as a day care, because I thought kindergarten was for someone's social and emotional status.

Answer 7

i think it's for the social development.

Answer 8

social, emotional, physical and cognitive - a good preschool will foster all  of these things.  Our first year program is mainly social and emotional - our second year program goes for all four.

Answer 9

A pre-school is a place where children can/should play; more along the lines of a play group, but here the parents can drop them off instead of participating; unless they choose a parent participation pre-school.

I would say it is on the same level as day care, just not full-time.

Answer 10

The answer to your question is "yes."  I don't necessarily see preschool as simply having one purpose.  A good preschool has many things to offer and does them all well.

--Ability to foster emotional development

--Develop independence

--Academic foundation

--Develop a love of learning

--Develop concentration

--Getting to know new friends

--Provide a safe place for the children to explore and learn

--Give the child the opportunity to learn on his/her own

I could keep making a list, but I think you get my point.  It's not about ONE thing that preschools do.  It's a variety of things that, together, make up this wonderful opportunity.

My 2 cents at least!

Matt