The Importance of Preschool

All you need to know to find peace of mind

By Linda Morgan

I loved preschool: puzzles, paints and plenty of play. We adored musical chairs, were crazy for crackers, and at rest time, dutifully rolled out our blankets and teddy bears. I have no idea whether Miss Mimi—our practically perfect preschool teacher—followed any sort of standardized curriculum. I do remember feeling happy and secure in that class while somehow managing to meet the requisite scholastic objectives, which in those days amounted to “gets along well with others.”

Simplicity is bliss. But so, as they say, is ignorance; maybe that’s why navigating the preschool terrain these days is considerably more complicated. The truth is, we know more than we used to. Thanks to advances in child development and neuroscience, parents and educators are paying closer attention to how kids process information during their preschool years.

“The first five years are the most important in a child’s life!” says Carmen Garcia-Gomez, Program Planner for First 5 Sacramento’s School Readiness and Child Care programs.

We know, for example, that early socialization facilitates learning. While you can provide your children with countless opportunities for social interaction at home, the kind of group interaction kids encounter in a preschool setting is difficult to duplicate.

We also know that while all play promotes learning, physical play helps children develop motor and cognitive skills, and creative play helps them connect with their own feelings. And we realize that early childhood education experts—using carefully selected games and materials most of us don’t stash in the playroom—understand how to maximize that play environment.

What to look for
The array of philosophies and preschool options available today can be downright confusing. What to choose: Montessori? Reggio? Waldorf? The days when parents happily settled for the little nursery school down the block seem a distant memory.

Though preschool programs vary, the elements that shape excellent preschools remain consistent, experts say. Garcia-Gomez urges parents, no matter what type of program they choose, to select one that “provides a curriculum rich in language and learning opportunities—one that addresses the physical, emotional and social needs of young children.” She also advises parents to look for a preschool program that is consistent with their own values, “so they can be comfortable with the decision they’ve made.”

So, before stressing over educational theories and learning philosophies, take a look at the big picture: Think about what kind of preschool environment you’d like—overall—for your child.

Identifying a quality preschool
“Good preschools give children a readiness boost for the rest of their lives,” says Jerlean Daniel, Ph.D., deputy executive director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Check out the preschool teachers. Are they qualified? NAEYC professionals feel preschool teachers should hold degrees in early childhood education. “This tells parents these are people who have studied children and have studied education,” says Daniel.

Find out if those teachers stick around. Frequent staff turnovers undermine stability. “Young children learn at their best when they have consistent relationships with the adults in the preschool program,” says Daniel.

As you compare preschool programs, look for one that fits your child’s personality, too. Would your little guy be happier in a busy, boisterous preschool setting—or in a quieter, more subdued one? Make sure the preschool's discipline policies and behavioral expectations match your own.

 Selecting a Preschool?
Click here for more tips on how to choose a good program for your child.

Find out how kids spend their day. Do they play outdoors? Work on computers? Take field trips? In Montessori preschool classrooms, children do a lot of individual exploration, says Sylvia Loveless, a professor of early education and Lead Teacher at Whispering Oak Montessori Academy in Citrus Heights.

“We don’t have group lessons,” says Loveless. “Instead, we have a free-choice session when children select their own materials, and teachers move from child to child, working individually with each child. One might be working on a language lesson, one might be doing a math lesson, and another might be working on a fine-motor activity, all at the same time.”

“Maria Montessori was first to recognize that children learn best through hands-on experience and through their senses,” says Loveless. “So, in a Montessori classroom, the materials are specially designed to be attractive to the children and to be self-teaching.” Loveless adds that peace and respect are core parts of Montessori teachings.

What’s your style?
You won’t find dress-up corners in a Montessori classroom, but you might in a Waldorf program, where art, singing, cooking, story-time, and dress-up thrive. Waldorf teachers find children learn best through play. “Play is a child’s work,” says Julie MacArthur, Lower School Coordinator at the Sacramento Waldorf School in Fair Oaks.

Nature is also a vital part of a Waldorf education, a fact that you’ll see reflected in the classroom environment. “You’ll notice a lot of natural materials—wood, wool, plants…” as opposed to neon colors or plastic surfaces, says MacArthur.

At Waldorf schools, teachers create opportunities for children to learn while connecting with the natural world. “That’s a very important part of the Waldorf experience,” says MacArthur. At the Sacramento Waldorf School, where the campus includes a farm, kids from the tot program up to grade 10 get daily opportunities to take nature walks or learn organic gardening skills, and practice their math skills—hands-on, out in the fresh air.

In the Reggio Emilia approach, too, the outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom. “Art lessons take place outside, books can go outside, and we have fresh flowers throughout the center,” says Cecilia Tillett, Administrator of La Bella Learning Center in Fair Oaks.

“With Reggio,” says Tillett, “teachers listen to the children and investigate [the subjects] the students are interested in.” She adds that, “math, science, art, and literacy are woven into every aspect of the kids’ day,” no matter which topic they’re exploring. Projects often stretch out over longer periods of time as the children study a topic of interest in-depth and from a variety of perspectives (mathematic, scientific, artistic and literary).

Documentation of the children’s learning is another characteristic trait of Reggio Emilia programs. Visiting a classroom, you might see lots of photographs being taken of the projects the kids are working on and their classroom activities, partly in order to share the kids’ experiences with their parents and to foster a continuum of learning at home, Tillett explains.

Maybe a cooperative preschool is more your style; these preschools are run by parent volunteers and are often less expensive than other programs.

Visit a variety of preschools, and watch the ways the adults interact with the children. Look for preschool teachers who are interested, engaged and enthusiastic, who like the children and like being there.

Then take a good, close look at the kids. Are they happy? Having fun? Engrossed in activities? “Get a feel for the tenor and tempo of the class,” says Daniel. “Go there when things are happening. Then ask yourself: Can I imagine my child in that room?”

(c) Linda Morgan, reprinted with permission

Linda Morgan is the author of Beyond Smart: Boosting Your Child's Social, Emotional, and Academic Potential.