By DullesMoms, Feb 2023
No matter their age, parents want their kids on a path to academic success. However, looking at the whole child, success is more than good marks. That’s why early childhood education is important — it grows so many aspects of young learners, including their social skills:
Making Friends: It’s a Big Deal!
Remember the thrill of meeting your first friend? Preschool is where social magic happens. According to an article by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, preschool environments provide unique opportunities for kids to make friends and learn how to sustain friendships through sharing, taking turns, and even settling squabbles over the toy du jour.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
Those group activities like building a mega-block castle or painting a community mural? Yeah, those are preschool gold. Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child says that early education promotes skills in cooperating with peers, which comes in handy for virtually all future group projects, team sports, and, yep, adult work situations).
Say Hello to Emotional Intelligence
Understanding emotions is a biggie, and preschools are like mini emotional boot camps. The kiddos learn not just to identify their own feelings but also to understand others. Imagine your child comforting a friend who’s upset about losing a game—that’s emotional intelligence in action, folks! According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, children who attended preschool scored higher in emotional intelligence later in life.
Communication: More Than Just Words
You know how we adults often say, “I wish I’d learned to communicate better?” Well, guess what? Preschool helps kids express themselves not just through words but also through gestures, facial expressions, and even the art of persuasion (like trying to convince their BFF to trade snacks). A report by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association highlights how early childhood education is critical in language and communication development.
Resilience & Coping Skills
Life is not a bed of roses, as we all know. Preschool helps children develop coping skills like patience, problem-solving, and handling disappointment (like when they don’t get to be the line leader). A study from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that these early lessons in resilience can contribute to long-term mental health.
Early education programs, including preschool and kindergarten, are great places for your child to grow socially and emotionally. In the grand scheme of things, those social skills might just be the real MVPs when it comes to lifelong happiness and success!
