Raising a child is a full-time job. When you’re already saddled with a full-time job or school, quality child care is going to quickly climb high up on your list of priorities! Where do you go about seeking out affordable child care, though, and ensuring that your little one gets the social development and early learning they need to thrive in future elementary and junior high classes? A child care center is a necessary tool for both children and parents alike, giving mothers and fathers the free time they need to fulfill daily obligations and kids with the education and social mingling that’ll teach them essential skills down the road. Below are some simple statistics and quick facts on the nature of preschool and early development, to better help you make a smart and fulfilling decision for you and your kids.
Early Childhood Development
Your tiny tot is going through their most significant learning phases right now. They’ll start learning many words at around 15 or 18 months, as well as spacial recognition and the first burgeoning aspects of their individual personality. Between the ages of three and five, a child’s vocabulary will go from around 900 to a whopping 2,500 words. Their sentences will become longer, more complex and will hone in on basics such as problem-solving, differentiation and broad communication.
Prepping For Future Education
While early educational child care is optional, it’s highly recommended by doctors and psychologists alike to ensure the best possible future for your young one. A recent analysis involving over 80 preschool programs came to the conclusion that children, on average, will gain a third of a year of additional learning across language, math, social and reading skills. This is a significant head start compared to those who don’t attend enrichment programs, who lagged behind in many basic skillsets. In an analysis of over 100 different studies, a stunning 80% of children who participated in high quality early childhood programs outperformed their peers who didn’t attend preschool.
Recommendations For Home Growth
Quality child care is essential for the entire family, but it’s not the only area in which growth can be found. Kids under the age of two will spend an average of 53 minutes per day watching movies or television, that of which can potentially stunt their growth and leave them behind when they attend an enrichment center or child development program. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that toddlers avoid screen media for the first two years of their life, with an emphasis on puzzles, block games, music, fun activities and picture books. Socialization is essential for helping them develop their language skills, on top of learning how to form meaningful relationships and make friends.
Finding Quality Child Care
Seeking out quality child care that fits your schedule and meets the needs of your toddler isn’t always easy, but it’s more than possible if you narrow down the basics. An extended care program should offer a wide variety of activities and experiences, ranging from physical play to story sessions to counting and identification exercises. Class size should be small enough to ensure your child gets ideal one-on-one attention and early learning should accommodate special needs. According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, more than 40% of three year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. To make sure your child gets the opportunity to be the best they can be, seek out a child care program that excels in fun, safety and social growth.