Preschools: Are They Worth the Cost

                                                      

 

 

 

Even though I have no personal experience with preschools (I did not attend preschool nor did my children), I still tend to believe that preschools can be worth the cost.  According to the teachers we spoke to at Voyager, they can tell a difference in the children that have been to preschool as opposed to the children that have not attended preschool.  If there is such a clear difference in these children and if parents have the means and opportunity, then why not send your child to preschool?  Among the other pros to sending your child to preschool are that the child will learn socialization skills that will prepare him for kindergarten and will help him to make the transition from home to school more easily. But everything has its positive points and negative points.

According to information at various websites, exposure to illness and missed time with parents are listed as cons when considering preschool, along with the lack of one on one attention that is needed for many children. 

The following Web sites provide these details about some of the benefits (and negative points) of preschool.

http://www.greatschools.org/students/academic-skills/1113-why-preschool.gs

http://www.preschoolsnsw.org.au/about-preschools/why-preschool

Whether a child is in preschool or is at home with their mom (or dad) during these years, it is an important time in the life of a child for learning. According to a study by Konrad Lorenz, the Nobel-prize winner who did a study on newborn goslings, there is evidence that supports the idea that there are critical periods of development and learning.  To learn more about this study go to the following website.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-illuminated/201109/getting-ahead-why-preschool-benefits-the-brain

 

 

 

 

 

Preschool -- Does it matter?

Having children is a huge step in peoples lives. It falls in one of those, graduate, get a good job, get married, have kids categories that are ingrained into peoples minds from day one. But in today's society, many families have two working parents. Whereas in the past, it was common for the mother to stay home while the husband went to work, times have changed. People can barely afford to survive with two working parents these days. So once these couples have kids, the next question is, do they send them to school early? Does it make a difference to a child if they begin school at 2 or 5?
While I must admit I am new to hanging out with kids, even tho I recently became a first time uncle, I could see a dramatic influence that preschool has on children. I've been lucky enough to observe a few classrooms this semester as part of our OTA pediatrics course. In these classrooms, the children were already learning their names, showing social skills, learning manors, and much more. It amazes me just how much info is being learned so early on in life. But when you really think about it, babies begin to learn about themselves and things around them as soon as they gasp that first breathe of air. Naturally, the first little bit of a child's life is spent with family taking care of there every little need and watching them grow day-by-day. But there comes a point when life must resume for the mother who is out on maternity leave. So, what now....   does the mother quit a job to stay home and learn to eat roman noodles just like her freshman year of college? Do they enroll the child into a fancy preschool that promises the moon and stars?
Honestly, I don't think there is one answer that will fit everyone. I believe each and every individual will have to come up with their own answers. It seems that preschool is an awesome idea because one can immediately see that the children are ahead of the game when they enter kindergarten. They know there names, how to make friends, and even respect the teachers and show manors. So, duh, of course, send them to preschool to start learning right? Every parent wants their child to be smarter than the rest and ahead of the game. But wait, studies show that by 2nd grade, most children seem to equal out in their cognitive abilities and there is no more being top of the class (preschool education). So now, have the parents that sent there children to these preschools that cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, just wasted their money? That's still most likely no. While the children have shown that their IQ levels tend to equal out, it's the 'non-cognitive' abilities that seem to stand out. Children are becoming independent sooner and learn to deal with different situations (independence). But does a child really need to ready to socialize before kindergarten? If they don't learn independence early on how will they ever detach from their parents? Are they going to end up like Ray on Everybody Loves Raymond and live across the street from their parents? Hey, it might of helped me. I guess I blocked out the memories, but I'm told that because I was so shy and would not talk to anyone, they thought I was "dumb" and placed me in the lowest level classes in SC. I am told that I used to come home with f**k y** written all over my shirts. Could preschool have helped me become more confident in myself? I guess I'll never know as I never know.

So in the end, I don't have an answer, and I don't believe there is one set answer out there. Each person will begin life in a different situation in a different environment that immediately begins to have an impact on an individuals life. If the parents are really into education, they might begin a perfectly good routine at home and never see the need for preschool. Or perhaps, they both have to go to work soon so they put a child into preschool thinking its all about play. And maybe it's just to keep their children busy and out of trouble, but one thing is certain, each and every person will learn no matter the situation. If families believe preschool and its environment are that important, let them send their kids. If families don't see the importance, that is up to them. Maybe it does help a child become social, but maybe they would learn that at home playing with the neighborhood children or at the local pool. I believe that decision is entirely up to the parents and the rest is just a wait and see what happens next type of event.

A Whole New Generation...

                                        

So the topic for today is; “Is there too much emphasis on creating the perfect or ideal learning environment for children vs. letting them develop on their own?”  This is in regard to the sometimes higher cost of preschools for children.  In my opinion I think initiating children into a learning environment early on has great possibilities for the child academically and socially.  It is also great for early detection of any learning or emotional disabilities to get recognized.  The cost of these great schools is not feasible for everyone therefore leaving their children without the same advantages of getting a head start on education. 

I think it is great to get kids into a learning environment early on.  They are children after all who rely on us as adults to guide them into their futures.  Realistically it is not always possible to stay at home and go through child rearing books with your kids as they develop day by day.  Through my own experience it has been imperative for kids to have assistance with development before they start pre-k or kindergarten.  It was also very apparent when we visited the elementary school a few weeks ago the differences in the children’s abilities.  What seem like simple tasks to us grown-ups are so very important for the developing child; cutting, drawing, skipping, jumping, etc.  All of these things are key components to developing a good foundation for the years to come.   Before we went to the school I naively figured all 4-5 year old kids could use scissors, skip and catch a ball with their hands not just their whole body. 

We have another great semester of learning/experience coming up!  I have included a link here that is a video of an OT working on a variety of skills with a young boy with Autism.  She will be working on sensory integration while working on writing, problem solving, and communication - all in this little video!  She has some really great techniques to tuck into our tool bags J

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDnTgJJxVjQ&feature=related

Setting up for success!

Preschools are INDEED very expensive! The average cost of a preschool in the US is $11,666 per year ($972 a month) for infants-toddlers and $8,800 a year ($733 a month) for preschool age children. Click here for more info about preschool costs A good quality preschool is worth the money. I think it is important for children to socialize, follow rules, learn from their peers, and get used to respecting and listening to teachers. I am neutral on whether or not to put a baby in a preschool. Some parents have to, and some don't...I don't think that it is necessarily "bad" or "good." However, around age three I do think it is important to start kids off on the right foot! They will have 2 years experience before going to Kindergarten, which sets them up for success. I did not go to preschool and I can remember having a really hard time in Kindergarten. At home, I did not have to sit for long periods of time, share supplies, and socialize with 15+ other children. I was always labeled as "shy" and I attribute that to not being exposed to large groups during preschool age.

I think that preschools are always developing and getting better. Most are really focused on curriculum, but I that has to do with changing research about how the brain is developed and grows very fast in the first few years of life. So many connections are being made in the brain, and without the opportunity for the connections to be made, it will not develop. The preschool should definitely have a good balance between curriculum based learning and free, explorative play. Children need to learn both ways.

At the schools that I have observed, I have been impressed. The Voyager was really nice, open and clean. The teachers all seemed very invested in their students and classrooms. There seemed to be a wide variety of different cultures. There are also different cultures at Primrose School, but the majority of the students are Caucasian. Primrose School focuses a lot on curriculum but the children are allowed free play during the day. I like the push for academic learning; it challenges the children and they love it! Of course, the teachers do not "push" the learning too hard. All children are different and the teachers take this into account. If a child is frustrated, the activity will be downgraded and not everything has to be perfect or right! They try to teach to always do your best. [Primrose students score in the 90th percentile on a nationally normed measure compared to peers] [School Readiness at Primrose]

 

Preschools--a cost we must afford

   

It seemed like such an easy question. "Preschools are very expensive endeavors, are they worth their cost?" My immediate thought was they're nice and the kids like it, but I didn't go to preschool and I turned out fine.

    Then I considered the children with developmental delays who are given the opportunity to work at their own pace with typically developing children and then catch-up developmentally and enter mainstream kindergartens. If only everyone was given that opportunity...
    In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson supported a summer program called Head Start. It's goal was to give impoverished children an opportunity to enter kindergarten on the same footing as their peers through language, cognitive, social and emotional education. It was expanded to a full-year program that focused on health and nutrition, as well as education.
    On the heels of that program's beginnings, University of North Carolina began a study called the Abecedarian Project, that randomly assigned 111 children (including infants) to either a day school that focused on the same things as Head Start, as well as parent education, or a control group that was not provided the same services. http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/5032/107/
     A 30-year followup of 101 of the participants showed that those who received early childhood intervention were more likely to graduate from high school, four times more likely to attend college, were better able to stay consistently employed and less likely to receive public assistance. It is just one example of many studies that prove early education starts children on a path that leads to greater adult opportunities.
     Traditionally, the state of North Carolina agreed with these studies and has run a program through Head Start and other Pre-kindergartens called "More at Four". It has been one of the few states that had rigorous quality standards to ensure the children were actually receiving the nutrition and education offered in higher priced preschools. Some of the standards include: lead teachers are required to hold a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and licensure as a birth to kindergarten teacher, 1:9 teacher/student ratios, teacher continuing education requirements, and specific early learning standards. The full criteria are available in the State of Preschool Yearbook, 2011, by the National Institute for Early Education Research. www.nieer.org This program is in peril, however, as North Carolina and other states drastically reduce education funding.
     Another consideration is the affordability and access to preschool education for moderate income families. Research has shown that a large percentage of families are above eligibility for state programs but unable to afford private ones. http://www.knowledge-media.com/synergy/content/821/pdf-naesp1665_preschooleducation.pdf Shouldn't those children be given the same opportunities as the lower and higher ends of the income spectrum?
     The answer to the original question seems easy: YES, children should have an opportunity to attend a high quality preschool program. However, we need to continue to try to find a way to make it part of the curriculum for all children. The following video by economist Stephen Barton supports my statement and takes it a step further by including research about the economic payback the country would receive by implementing it. http://www.nieer.org/resources/video/mpg/Clip_2.mpg

My Five-Year-Old is Smarter Than Your Five-Year-Old

Are preschools worth the cost? Is preschool necessary for a child? These are questions that I am already struggling with and I don't even have a child yet. I don't think it would hurt a child to go to preschool and understand the structure of school and the teacher/student roles, but it's not like a child needs to be a perfect student in order to be in kindergarten. I'm not talking about educationally (I'll get to that), I mean behaviorally. A five year old is going to wiggle around, play with other children and maybe misbehave once in a while regardless. I feel that there's nothing that a parent can't do at home that a teacher can do at school. Such as teaching a child manners (listening, following directions, sharing, etc) and learning the basics that a five year old child should know (reading, writing, shapes, alphabet, etc). So what is the real benefit of preschool besides being around other children in a classroom setting? I'm not really sure...

My niece is four years old and is in preschool right now. Before she even went to preschool she was a very bright little girl. She already knew how to read, she knew her shapes, colors,  and letters. I know that she was excited to go to school and I'm sure my brother and sister-in-law didn't mind the couple hour break in their day when she went, but what would be the difference of going to preschool and going to a children's club or daycare? They said that they did it so she could be ready for kindergarten. What is so advanced about kindergarten that a child needs to be ready for!?

I feel like preschool is expected for children before kindergarten just like college is expected after high school. It's one of those things that people do just because everyone else does it and it's the "normal" thing to do at a certain point in life. But sometimes college isn't the best thing for people... so is preschool the best thing either?

I do think that children can get a better education at home verses in a classroom. I'm not sure if that is the "best" choice for a child because there are obvious disadvantages such as the social environment and learning about different people. However, I do believe that the lack in social environment in a classroom setting can be substituted in other ways. For example, children can join clubs, sports, Sunday school, and home school parents can teach their children together. Even if a parent chooses not to home school their children throughout their entire schooling, preschool is optional and as long as the child is getting opportunity to learn and socialize before kindergarten I don't see the point (right now).

Below is an article about the same feelings that a mom has about sending her child to preschool. The expert answer gives very good insight about the decision on whether or not to send a child to preschool. 

http://life.familyeducation.com/school-readiness/emotional-development/41798.html

On the contrary, this sight states why preschool is important for children and the benefits of it.

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/curriculum/why-preschool-matters/

I know that when it comes time to make that decision we will ultimately do what's best for our children. If our child can have a similar environment that a preschool can offer than I'd rather save my money and continue to teach my child at home. On the other hand, if preschool really is necessary than my child will be going to preschool. I'm not saying this is the best choice for all families. Of course some parents work and may live in rural areas where a child may not be able to interact with other children therefore preschool is very important. Either way, a child should have the basics of learning and socializing whether that's through preschool or other opportunities that a parent can provide for a child.

The preschool that I observed on Wednesday was the first preschool that I have ever been to so I didn't have anything to compare it to. It was very small, one class that I observed only had four children in it ages 3-4. I noticed that each age group was just a little more advanced than the age prior which I felt was appropriate. The activity that I noticed on the schedule the most was called "center time." This is where the children got to choose a center that they wanted to play at in the classroom. The centers included art, science, homemaking, sand and water, reading, and blocks. The children did this for an hour at a time twice a day. This gave the children an opportunity to be independent and play freely in an area of interest to them. The children were from all different cultures (African American, Hispanic, Caucasian and Indian). I did see a lot of structure in the classroom and training to be in the student role for the children. Again, I have nothing to compare it to yet so my opinion is kind of blithe.  

Time flies!

I can't believe the semester is almost over... it went by so quickly! I learned so much and I feel more comfortable with working in the geriatric field.
I was surprised to learn that there was primary and secondary aging. I figured it was all just clumped together into "aging." I also thought that some diseases, like arthritis, were a normal part of aging. I was wrong! Most of the normal signs of aging were not surprising to me (i.e wrinkles, grey/white hair, decrease in senses). However, I did not think of them from an OT perspective before; it surprised me how these normal aspects of aging can lead to so many other problems.

 
Examples:
Hearing- A loss of hearing could lead to social isolation, depression, and decreased safety.
Taste & Smell- A decrease in these senses can lead to decreased food intake and nutrition, decreased safety, and social participation (especially when cooking/eating involved).

Link to Article on Untreated Hearing Loss
Geriatric Nutrition
Making Sense of Sensory Loss

Most of the patients that I saw this semester had hearing loss. It is hard to know how loud or close to talk to them without looking like you are yelling at them. Also, it was hard to know how much of the conversation they were missing due to not wanting to keep asking, "What did you say?"

My grandma has not been able to smell anything for at least 5 years. One of her favorite things used to be candles... so we would always get her pretty scented candles for presents. Now that she can't smell anymore, we never buy them for her and she said she really misses being able to smell her candles.

A big thing that I have noticed with my grandma as well as the patients is the high amount of salt and sugar they put on their food. WOW!

I am looking forward to our summer break, then next semester! Oh my goodness, our last one before fieldwork 2...Scary and Exciting!