Early Education on the Riseby Lyn Newton | More from this Blogger 09 Jul 2007 09:26 PM We all know that the first years of our children's lives are the most critical to development. Tennessee continues to add more pre-kindergarten classes to its public schools. Its future goal is to have a preschool program that is available to all children. Massachusetts is also among several other states that are reforming education to include adequate pre-kindergarten and full day kindergarten classes for all children. However, not only educators are supporting early learning. Pediatricians alike will agree that early intervention is important. Dr. Sean Palfrey, former president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, also agrees with early education for all children. A quote from him sums up his compete attitude toward early education. "High-quality early education is one of the most effective prescriptions Massachusetts pediatricians know of to accomplish this goal (a child succeeding in life)."For the first three years of a child's life, pediatricians focus on growth, weight, health, and proper vaccines. By the age of three, their focus begins to turn to behavior and developmental. Pediatricians will begin asking questions about the child's knowledge. They question about the child's play, recognition of colors and numbers, and fine motor skills. Between the ages of two and six, a child's mind takes in every piece of information that it can get its hands on. The mind of a child this age absorbs information, processes language, and learns behavior faster than you and I are capable of doing. The self-confidence, patterns, and behavior that a child develops will remain with him or her throughout his or her life. Much research has shown us that the information a child learns in the first six years will be the foundation for creating that child's strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, more and more focus is being placed on early education programs. States are spending millions of dollars to upgrade and intensify their preschools and kindergartens. It is important that children enter school with a background that allows them to succeed. Why I Don't Believe in Early Education Learn more about Lyn Newton  Lyn is a kindergarten teacher and mommy to a girl and a boy. In her spare time, she enjoys informative and creative writing. Relevanteducation tags User Comments football29 (5) 10 Jul 2007 01:03 PMI agree that we need to do a better job of reaching our students before they enter kindergarten. If parents are not able to teach them the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten, then the local school districts need to help out.  Valorie Delp (49340) 10 Jul 2007 03:03 PMI am actually quite opposed to early childhood education. . .or at least the school district taking it over. What I think needs to happen more is parents taking that responsibility on themselves. Where they cannot or will not, I think other agencies (possibly including the boe) should help educate the parents on its importance and/or support parents via other means. I really believe that the more parents get the mentality that it's the school's job, the worse society in general will become. But Karri, it was an excellent read and a great topic. ;-)  Lyn Newton (3966) 10 Jul 2007 03:32 PMThanks, Valorie, and I agree. I wish that there was some way to make parents be responsible. I am just not sure how. I am opposed to requiring preschool. I have had children in my class who were very ready for school and never attened preschool. Home lives are a big factor in school readiness. I have also had many parents say that they don't like homework because it is the school's job to teach not the parents. Therefore, I can totally identify with you. I think that teh governments realize that it would be nearly impossible to make everyone be a good parent so they are trying to compensate for those who are not. Your insights are always wonderful! football29, thanks so much for your support in helping get children ready to learn! Valorie Delp (49340) 10 Jul 2007 07:05 PMYou're so sweet Karri. What I can't understand is that when it comes to other things, agencies and organizations get together and decide that what we need is more education. For example, if we want more moms to breastfeed, we educate them on the issue. If we want people to eat healthier, we educate them on how to eat. Yet for some reason in the actual field of education, rather than working with parents, we go, "Wait. . .schools can do that." ChrisTurner (5) 16 Jan 2008 01:14 PMIt is always been amazing to me see how young children can soak up and learn so much in such a short time. Like Lynn points out, the ages of 2-6 are a very important time in the development of a child’s life where behavior patterns begin to form. It seems that any active parent could easily teach and prepare their child for the future. But wouldn’t it be nice if the parents were active and working with educators directly? Obviously easier said than done but it’s defiantly something to shoot for. Besides preschools, there are also other programs for young kids like the ones at the NY Kids Club who I have been working with lately. Programs like music/art/cooking and martial arts are available and it also offers a chance for kids to socialize and interact in a safe environment. My parents where always good about keeping me involved in different activities. Some of those activities, like music lessons, have stuck with me to this day and I still enjoy playing! The point is you never know what a child is capable of unless they are given the proper chance to shine. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the parents. Chris Turner Valorie Delp (49340) 16 Jan 2008 06:01 PMI really think that it's better if children stay at home when they are that young. When that's not possible. . .a good preschool is essential and in that sense, I'm in favor of free preschool. I would rather see kids at preschool than at a babysitter's watching television. However, in general, home can be a much more productive place to be at that age. And no, it would not be better for a parent to work with an educator. . .parents are the true educators of their children.  Pam Connell (2658) 17 Jan 2008 06:18 PMSometimes community colleges offer a nice compromise with their parent-child programs. The way ours worked is that there were two teachers for the children and one parent educator. Each week half the parents would be in the large room with the children and teachers, thus observing how the teachers work with the children, while the other half was in an adjoining room with the parent educator discussing child development, education, sibling rivalry, nutrition, etc. Next week the topic would be repeated with the parents who'd already heard it working with the teachers and kids. So there was a new topic every two weeks. The classes end with a music time for parents and children together and parents receive one or two community college credits for attending. Pam Connell (2658) 17 Jan 2008 06:20 PMI should add that the program met once a week, so it was largely about giving the parents ideas for enrichment ideas to do at home the rest of the week. Valorie Delp (49340) 18 Jan 2008 03:58 AMSee, now I think that's an excellent idea. I still think it's unnecessary in the sense that one doesn't "have" to do it. Moms can do plenty of great stuff with their kids at home. BUT, I do think there are parents that need/want the intervention and a oaw meeting like that would be a great 'bridge' for those parents and kids. You're right Pam--that's an excellent compromise. Discuss this article
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