Our daily lives are fueled by the need to work in order to provide for our families; this is colloquially referred to as that “daily grind.” Although Americans are making more money per hour today than previous years, one must also take into account the cost of living changes that have occurred over the decades. In 1975 the average cost of a new home would be $209,417 in 2015 dollars while today’s equivalent in minimum wages for 1975 would have been $9.16 per hour; compare that to 2015’s average for a home at $270,200 and minimum wage of $8.25 per hour! It is no surprise to learn that parents are spending more time at work with roughly two-thirds of children between the ages of two and four years old attending part time or full time child care centers.
The Age of Learning
Psychologists have determined for some time that the earliest years of life are also the most crucial to intellectual development; it is during these first few years when synapses in the brain are still forming. Many parents choose to enroll their children in an early childhood education center or a preschool to give them a head-start in academics. Preschoolers are taught to use math and numbers every day through daily activities such as counting milk cartons or determining how many classmates are seated at the same table. These children also gain a familiarity with geometric shapes and refine their motor skills through varied arts and crafts. By the time a preschooler completes the year, they will learn to recognize all 26 uppercase letters as well as some lowercase letters; on top of this a majority of preschoolers were able to learn the names of most colors, basic shapes, as well as body parts giving them the tools to embark on a lifetime full of learning!
The Statistical Advantage of Private Schools
While it may be easy to assume that all preschool programs offer students the same opportunities for learning, recent studies of adults who attended preschool classes when they were younger are challenging this belief. On the whole, students who attended a private early childhood education school or a private preschool were shown to have a greater degree of education success later on in life. Students who attended some kind of private school early on were shown to have improved test scores, a more proficient ability to read and write, and more refined analytical skillsets generally. Students of private schools were repeatedly shown to have higher rates of graduation as well as acceptance into colleges after high school; so what makes private schools different?
Giving Your Child the Tools to Succeed
In order for early education to work, personal attention must be given to the student to identify strengths, weaknesses, and their personal interests — private schools are able to do this thanks in large part to their smaller class sizes. By treating students on an individual level they are not forced to fit into a standard curriculum, allowing them to flourish at their own pace according to a learning style that is tailored to them. Many early childhood learning centers staff certified professionals trained in a variety of learning styles; this allows the children to directly experience lesson plans packed with fun activities suited for their age and developmental level. Private schools also encourage a greater degree of parent participation than public schools, making them ideal for committed parents interested in taking an active role in the education of their children. For those parents looking to give their child every advantage they can in life, consider contacting early learning centers or private preschools in your area for a tour.
