Are preschools worth it? Do we spend too much time trying to create the "ideal" learning environment for children? As I ask myself those questions, my mind travels to the concept of Montessori education. If you are unfamiliar with Montessori, simply put, it is an education style which focuses on the child's sense of discovery and independence in order to learn. Most children have a natural sense of curiosity about the world, and desire to explore and master their environment and Montessori education embraces this drive. Children are allowed to explore abstract concepts such as language, science, and math in a very hands on way with teachers acting more as guides in their education. The skills they learn are meant to facilitate and nourish a lifelong desire to learn and grow, as opposed to a traditional preschool education which focuses on reaching basic benchmarks to prepare the child for elementary school education.
However, as I ponder this, my mind springs back to the parents. No matter what education a child receives in preschool, it must be followed up by the parents at home. Children must have a strong base of support in order to grow and flourish. Many parents believe it is the school system's responsibility to educate their child, and these parents put very little work in their child's educational needs when they get home. If a child does well in Montessori or traditional preschool, and comes home to parents who don't take part in their child's education then that child misses out on the foundational building blocks for a lifetime of learning.
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