Some parents consider pre-kindergarten programs to be a waste of time and money. However, many have learned their lessons well and have proven that when done right, sending children to preschool has its benefits especially when it is done right. This has not however stopped the ongoing debate about the benefits of preschool.
Most preschool programs have contributed to the counting and reading skills of children. It has also been attributed to the development of the emotional quotient of children and this is more important for parents who do not think that intelligent quotient alone will help the child's development.
NPR said a study was made involving over preschool 20,000 students enrolled in state-funded institutions in Virginia. Among the benefits seen was an improvement in their skills in recognizing alphabets. A North Carolina research shows that the benefits of these childhood programs last even up to the fifth grade.
The Online Library said research on the Impact of the Early Childhood Programs in North Carolina was published in the Child Development Journals. The study, which was first published in November 2016, involved around one million students in North Carolina who attended preschool programs from 1995 to 2010.
The study said that the benefits gained by the preschool children from these programs were maintained up to grade five. Other preschoolers were however able to hold on to these benefits for a longer period of time.
"Pre-kindergarten and early education programs are incredibly important," said Kenneth Dodge, Duke Center for Child and Family Policy director said. Dodge, who is also the lead author of the study, said "especially for parents, for business leaders - because of the workforce development aspect - and for policy makers who are spending the money on it."
KCUR said the research is just a confirmation of the findings of researchers in Tulsa, Okla which is considered one of the country's most highly esteemed preschool programs. Other studies show that the benefits of preschool programs slowly fade when the students go into elementary school.
