Why Preschool When We Have Abuelita?

There is a saying that goes "A child's first school is their home". As in many communities, this saying rings true for the Latino communities out there. We all know someone in our families or communities who spent their early years learning from their abuelita (grandmother), abuelito (grandfather), tias (aunts) or tios (uncles) at home while mom and dad were working during the day. Our family's culture, what ever it may be, is our first true lesson in life. Although this is a strong, worthwhile lesson to learn, a proper preschool education is becoming more and more essential to a successful school experience for today's children.

Times are changing. Kindergarten used to be the classic "beginning" of a child's journey through school. Preschool was thought of as another name for "daycare". But the world is demanding more from students these days and a quality preschool education is more important than ever. What does a quality preschool education mean? A healthy environment, qualified teachers and a convenient location are all things to consider when looking for a preschool program. But don't forget that curriculum is equally as important. "Curriculum in a preschool?" you might be wondering--yes! A well thought out and carefully prepared curriculum can mean the difference between an easy or difficult transition for your child into kindergarten. Think about it: learning the fundamentals of English, math and all the other school subjects during the preschool years means that your child will already begin his or her elementary schooling that much ahead of everyone else.

Science has shown that between the ages of 2 to 5, a child's brain is going through a tremendous amount of growth. According to an early education study commissioned by the United Way, a preschool aged child's brain is developing strong social, emotional and mental connections during ages 2 to 5 years old. This means that those preschool ages are crucial times for learning the basics that children will use the rest of their lives. On top of this, a quality preschool program should also be able to equip your child with good social and classroom skills, such as raising their hand in class and how to properly get along with classmates.

When your child reaches the appropriate age, sending him or her to a quality preschool can be one of the best decisions for your child's future. Of course, they should still get their cultural education from la familia (family), because let’s face it, there are some life lessons that only family can teach. When you combine these life lessons with a head start on learning ABCs or 123s, our children become stronger students and stronger members of their community.