Research has shown that young children benefit from a formal education before they start school. Pre-school gives them a better start in the learning experience, although because of their young age it should be in small amounts throughout the day rather than making them sit for long periods. Children learn more in the first five years of their lives than at any other time, and including some formal education in that time prepares them for what lies ahead. Here are just a few of the advantages children with a formal education seem to have over those that do not.

More Receptive

Children who have had some formal education are more receptive to learning when they start school. They tend to be better behaved and have a higher IQ than the children who have not had formal education. Some children were followed for several years in the 1980s to see how long the effects lasted. It was found that the most apparent advantages were in the first few years of school, but that they continued throughout the children’s school life to some degree.

It was also found that these children were less likely to self-harm, struggle with substance abuse, or display other delinquent behaviors.

Social Skills

Humans are social creatures by nature, and the roots of this are formed in our early childhood experiences. Pre-school lets the children interact with others from an early age, sowing the seeds of what friendship is in their young minds. This can be a real help if a child is shy by nature.

Parents or Pre-school?

There is some debate about whether pre-school education should be in a formal setting or at home with their parents. This seems to be the choice of the family, although some parents have such busy lives that they do not have the time to stay at home, and some are not sure what they should be teaching their children.

A teacher who has a Masters in Early Childhood Education will know how to make learning fun, will know how to encourage the children to get involved in projects, and will have the necessary experience to teach them the foundation of reading, writing and various other subjects.

Children who learn another language at a young age will retain the second one in their minds much easier than those that learn them later in life. This is often shown with children of parents who speak different languages and teach their children both from the start. Research has also shown that children who speak more than one language get better results in English exams.

Of course, there will always be parents that prefer to do this themselves, but for those that cannot, a formal pre-school education is the perfect answer.

Creates Enthusiasm

Children that are taught through fun and activities are more like to develop an enthusiasm for learning that stays with them for life. Whether they are taught by their parents or in a formal environment, they will take this with them through all of their school life.

Young minds are like sponges. They will learn more easily at a young age than at any other time in their life.