Once children reach the age of three to four years old, parents become anxious about getting them prepared for Kindergarten. Most will enroll them into a preschool where they will learn skills that will prepare them. Some parents put a lot of consideration into the type of preschool their child attends, while others do not take consideration at all. There are several kinds of preschools out there, but each preschool can be defined of whether they are traditional or child-centered. But what is the difference between the two, and why should we care? There is actually a dramatic difference between the them and both can greatly determine children’s readiness for Kindergarten. Traditional Traditional preschools are the ones we have a great abundance of and children go to the most. Some of the characteristics of this kind of school include the following:
The definite goal of these types of preschools is to prepare children academically so they are able to take on the concepts learned in Kindergarten. What is the outcome of this? This is what research from Berkeley found:
If this is the outcome of children from experiencing traditional preschools, why are they still around? Why do children still go to these schools? A few reasons to explain this is the high demand for children to be academically ready to take on standardized tests in Kindergarten from parents. Not only do preschools want children to come to their school, but also they want to support the families goals and intentions for their children. Because of these wishes, preschools are changing their curriculum so they can please families and keep their business running. There is also a lack of knowledge in child development and early childhood education. As our society is changing its technology, approaches to parenting, and studies on how education should be administered, it is changing the way children are learning and developing, either for better or worse. Good or poor decisions are made by policy makers and views are being changed because of lack of knowledge. Child-Centered In a child-centered preschool, the focus is on planning lessons based on children’s interests and learning through play. These schools we do not see very often due to low understanding and sometimes high cost. Most child-centered schools are based off the traditional approaches from philosophers, such as Friedrich Froebel, Maria Montessori, and Caroline Pratt. They could also be, or be based off of, Reggio Emilia, Montessori, or Waldorf. These are some characteristics in preschools that are child-centered:
Based off of research, this is what is concluded in children from child-centered approaches:
Teachers at child-centered preschools have a great knowledge about human development and understand that the concepts learned at the early stages can greatly affect the way people learn and process information when they are older. In essence, they take into the account the long-term effects, rather than the short-term, such as meeting those standardized tests. A thought that goes along with this comes from Amanda Morgan, who blogs Not Just Cute. She said,
A former teacher, Jessica Smock, wrote an article in the Washington Post, stating,
One more thought to share regarding this topic comes from a psychologist, Peter Grey, who said this,
Which Should You Choose? The great decision comes to which type of preschool is best for your child. Even with the research results of the two types, we need to also consider that every child learns and develops differently. It is like parenting: not one parenting strategy will work for every child. I suggest making a list about where your child is at, do research on the preschools in the area, and start comparing the pros and cons. When making a list about where your child is at, consider the following:
When doing research on the preschools in the area, consider the preschool’s philosophy, daily routine and schedule, mission statement and goals, teacher credentials, safety and discipline, and the cost. Then develop a pros and cons list with each preschool and decide from there which preschool fits best with the environment and your child’s goals. Despite the negative outcomes of traditional preschools, I definitely still think they can be a good fit for some children. If your child has a great foundation in social and executive function skills, is still able to have free play in their time, and is willing to sit through and grasp concepts through direct instruction, then the traditional school might be a good fit. But parents should consider both kinds of preschools and understand that whichever preschool they choose, they are going to prepare children for Kindergarten. Laura Lewis Brown, who wrote to parents on PBS, said,
A great thought to conclude comes from Dr. Robert Pianta, dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, who said this,
References: Anderson, Jenny. (2017). A Berkeley professor says preschoolers need the academic skills parents are rebelling against. Quartz. https://qz.com/1001590/whats-the-best-kind-of-preschool-for-children-play-based-montessori-or-academic/ Brown, Laura Lewis. (n.d.) Comparing Preschool Philosophies: Play-based vs. Academic. PBS Parents. http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/choosing/comparing-preschool-philosophies/ Morgan, Amanda. (2014). .The Vital Importance of a Strong Foundation: Why Early Learning Matters. Not Just Cute. https://notjustcute.com/2014/11/05/the-vital-importance-of-a-strong-foundation-why-early-learning-matters/ Punkoney, Sarah. (n.d.) What You Need to Know About Academic Vs. Play Based Preschool. Stay At Home Educator. https://stayathomeeducator.com/academic-vs-play-based-early-childhood-learning/ Smock, Jessica. (2017). Why kids deserve a preschool that lets them play. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2017/08/18/why-kids-deserve-a-preschool-that-lets-them-play/?utm_term=.deb32c358031 What is childDiffering from traditional kindergarten, a child-centered approach encourages children to take learning into their own hands, as opposed to being directed or prompted by a teacher. Children take responsibility for making choices about what they will learn and explore.
Which of the following statements describe childWhich of the following statements describe child-centered kindergartens? Child-centered kindergartens see children as individuals with their own developmental patterns of growth.
What are childChild-centred approach
adjusts and tailors activities towards all children's unique needs. includes the child, their family and support team in decision making. makes the 'child's voice' and preferences a priority. reflects and seeks feedback from all involved.
What is the childA child-centred curriculum offers children the opportunity to make choices about what, how and whom they want to play. This approach enables children to initiate and direct their own play with the support of interested and responsive adults.
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