Preschool Program Curriculum: Making The Most Of Your Preschooler's Daycare Experience

By Author: Amanda Bernard
Total Articles: 17
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Proven Preschool Research Results
There have been a multitude of studies that prove the benefits of early education and preschool programs. Many researchers have concluded that enrolling your child in preschool can help ensure success in school. Here are the highlights of research findings:

Across all studies, there was overwhelming evidence that early childhood education and care can produce sizable improvements in school success
Communities that implemented an early childhood education program had a reduced number of children that required special education and more children continued on to the next grade
The programs studied had a large effect on graduation rate, which showed a statistically significant improvement
Several of the programs studied found that children who participated had better classroom behavior later, and that children were rated by elementary school teachers as better adjusted socially
Studies showed that early childhood education and care programs increased a child’s pride in school achievement, ...
... increased their commitment to school, and helped them build better relationships with friends and neighbors

Preschool Sample Curriculum
Preschool or daycare for kids should include a wide array of activities that address four distinct areas of development: social, emotional, physical, and intellectual. Each of these curriculum topics offers specific benefits for your toddler. They include:
Social

Cooperating as a group
Understanding social concepts such as "please" and "thank you"
Helping in the classroom with watering plants or setting up snacks

Emotional

Taking comfort in using familiar objects
Expanding the mind by trying new things
Gaining confidence from success

Physical

Strengthening balance, motor skills, and coordination
Running, jumping, and throwing

Intellectual

Recognizing and writing letters and words
Participating in read-aloud exercises
Identifying numbers, counting, and estimating items
Exploring physical properties of water, sand, and paper

Daily Activities
Through independent exploration, structured activities, and hands-on learning, your child will work on early literacy, math, science, and social studies concepts. To ensure your child stays active, your pre school program should also include outdoor play time. Here are some recommended sample activities for your preschooler:

Group Time - Teacher brings the group together for morning routines, calendar review, sharing, featured activities, literacy-building, and discussion of the day's activities
Learning & Small-Group Activities - Your child can choose from activities in the creative arts, dramatic play, writing, blocks, math, science, and sensory learning centers. Small-group activities can focus on skill building and observational assessment
Outdoor Play - Children select from a variety of outdoor activities
Rest Time & Quiet Work - Your child can rest or nap. They can also select a variety of quiet choices such as drawing or writing.

Ensuring that your preschool program includes these recommended areas of development will build a strong foundation for your child’s education. Proven results from a wide range of studies show that preschool can help prepare your child for success in school. Take the time to research your childcare options and find a solution that addresses the unique needs of your preschooler.