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Look, we understand. You’ve been at home with your new baby for a few months, and you’re hesitant to send them to preschool. Unfortunately, though, many reading this have to go back to work at some point. My goal here is to put your mind at ease (as much as possible), because studies have shown that infants greatly benefit from a quality preschool experience.

The Benefits of Preschool for Infants

It is hard to send our kids to preschool, but we can “rest assured that preschool is a viable option,” even for infants (childcareadvantage.com). Not only is it a “viable option,” it is an option that will prepare your child for a successful educational future. The U.S. National Institute of Health conducted a long-lasting study that shows “children who have high-quality care see academic benefits lasting into high school” (Reuters.com). When children start preschool at a young age, they learn early to interact with teachers and peers in a classroom setting.

As young children, even infants, spend time with those their age they begin to learn how the world works in a safe environment outside the home. In these settings, “Kids learn how to problem-solve, share and otherwise play and learn well together, while their minds are still growing and personalities still emerging” (childcareadvantage.com). As their brains are in the midst of developing, preschool can help them develop in a way that prepares for a future of successful education. Each infant’s interaction with their teachers allows them to see adults other than those in their family “as mentors and authority figures able to provide positive guidance.” Even infants enrolled in a preschool begin to learn the skills of socializing and the importance of respecting teachers and other authority figures. Because of this, children who start preschool early are better equipped to be successful in Kindergarten, and all subsequent grades. 

Infants at Building Kidz Schools

Now that some of the benefits of preschool have been covered, it is important understand that not every preschool is built the same. The study done by the U.S. National Institute of Health specifically says children obtain these benefits when they are in “high-quality care.” According to Reuters, the study measures “high-quality care” by  “how much time the provider spends interacting with the children, as well as warmth, support and cognitive stimulation” (Reuters.com). Building Kidz exceeds all expectations in these areas.

We at Building Kidz partner with you in creating a nurturing and supportive environment to assist your child in meeting their developmental milestones. We create a hygienic and creative environment for infants to help develop their minds and bodies. It is our goal and our promise that your children will be our children; that they will be taught and supported with care and warmth.

Is Preschool Good for Toddlers?

For decades, the benefits of preschool for little ones has been discussed, studied, and analyzed. After all of these studies, “Childhood experts agree: Attending a high-quality program prepares kids for kindergarten and beyond” (Parents.com). For some, this may not come as a surprise. Giving children the opportunity to learn in a group setting with peers and adults has been shown to benefit academic success. Others, though, may be like I once was and are concerned about sending one so little to a daycare or preschool.

According to the studies and the experts, though, “The optimal age to begin day care is just after the child’s first birthday” (Parents.com) This article, title Get Ready for Preschool, goes on to discuss Karen Miller’s book, Simple Steps: Developmental Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year-Olds. In the book the author says that “A child at this age [(one)] is making leaps in her language, social, and motor skills. The constant flow of new people and stimulating activities in day care can fulfill a toddler’s need to learn and explore.” The idea here being that, as a child is making these large leaps, they are guided and strengthened by their peers and teachers.

It is helpful that children are making these leaps with their peers because it helps them to build a community of understanding. It helps them to gain socialization skills and “gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence” (Parents.com). They will also learn to identify shapes and sing the ABC’s, but it is these aspects of respect, self-awareness, and self-confidence that will set a foundation for their future academic and social lives. 

Are All Preschools the Same?

The short answer to the question is no. Parents put in effort when searching out the right preschool. Children need to be in a place that they feel safe and loved. Parents need to know that their children feel that way, and that their children are learning.

For those who have read these blogs before, you’ll know that my wife and I recently adopted four brothers. For a time, we needed them to be in a daycare/preschool due to our work schedule. It was extremely difficult to find one that we felt would meet each of their unique needs. At one point we even pulled them out of a preschool that we felt were making things worse for our children. It got to a point in which we had them in a preschool and daycare center that we felt we had simply settled for because it was the best we could find. Not because we felt it was the best place out kids could be. About a year later, though, we found Building Kidz. We fell in love with their schools and programs so much that we not only trust them with our kids, but we will be opening our own Building Kidz location soon.

What first drew us to Building Kidz is their obvious love for children. Preschools are not their business: children are. The second is their curriculum. Building Kidz has a proprietary curriculum unlike one we’ve seen before. It seamlessly integrates academics with dance, music, and dramatic play for all ages. Even for toddlers. It is amazing to walk into a toddler room and see children that young dancing and singing about the letter “e” or how many sides a square has. It is truly a powerful program that teaches children to develop their creativity and to love learning.

Why Preschool is Crucial

The benefits of preschool have been discussed intensely over the years. From better preparing kids for kindergarten to improving the success rate all the way through college, many studies have shown that a quality preschool education can be invaluable. Emily Hayden noted in a recent article that, “Kindergarten is seen as the new first grade and academic rigor is increasing. This means it’s even more important for parents to make sure their kids are on a good developmental footing. One of the best ways to do this is through a quality preschool education program” (Rasmussen.edu). The world is moving at a quicker and quicker pace, and a quality preschool will only help our children be more successful in the fast-moving world.

The reason gaining a preschool education is beneficial is because, “The time kids spend in pre-K programs is used to develop a foundation for a lifetime of learning” (Rasmussen.edu). The younger children learn how to learn, to interact with peers, and to solve problems the better off they will be. And this effects more than their academics. According to Psychology Today, “At age 28, the adults who received preschool educations years before had significantly higher job prestige, earnings and socioeconomic status” (psychologytoday.com). As children learn such crucial skills at an early age, their entire lives will be greatly improved. Although, as these article note, it is quality preschool programs that will provide such significant, long-lasting results. Building Kidz has such a program.

Building Kidz Preschool

Our preschool program was painstakingly created through research, study, and analysis in order to provide the best possible outcomes for our children. New studies have shown how significant a role the performing arts can play in enhancing a child’s academic achievement. At Building Kidz, math, science, and language are all taught with performing arts integration. This allows children to learn through play, music, dance, and action. They even show off their talent twice a year in a recital and a Broadway-style production.

By teaching with these methods, children learn through multiple ways why the world works the way it does. More importantly, they learn to love learning. They build that crucial foundation discussed by Emily Hayden. The early years are a critical time for children. Children between the ages of 2 and 6 develop physical coordination, formulate and combine ideas, are able to learn more complex games, and begin the journey of learning about themselves and each other. The top-notch preschool program at Building Kidz will help your children develop and enhance these skills to best of their abilities, all while providing a caring and engaging learning environment.

Kindergarten is Valuable

Many studies have shown the importance of kindergarten; however, as of 2014, only 15 states have made kindergarten mandatory (huffingtonpost.com). When we see that so few states require students to attend kindergarten, it can be easy to dismiss the importance of it. Or, to some, it may seem insane that it is not required nationwide. Either way, though, the studies agree: Kindergarten is an invaluable experience for children.

Kindergarten has many benefits. Some are readily apparent and others can be hard to see. A strong social and academic experience in kindergarten prepares children for a future of success. Yet the benefits stretch beyond that, as discussed in Psychology Today: “children who learned more in kindergarten, compared to similar students, were less likely to be single parents, went to college in higher numbers, had higher incomes, and had retirement plans” (psychologytoday.com). These are surprising findings, given that children are only 5 to 6 years old in kindergarten, but it also makes sense. If, while in kindergarten, a child learns how to solve problems, make friends, work hard, and think creatively, then they have a strong foundation for their future. It only makes sense, then, that those learned traits would stick with them throughout their lives.

Kindergarten at Building Kidz

What is most interesting about these studies is that they don’t say ALL children who attend Kindergarten receive these benefits. The article above says “children who learned more in kindergarten,” not children who attended kindergarten. It goes on to state a surprising finding: “the data demonstrated unequivocally that better teachers had the most significant influence on their students in adulthood. The researchers estimated that…exceptional teachers are worth $320,000 a year” (psychologytoday.com). The quality of a child’s kindergarten teacher has a correlation to how successful the child will be in the future.

At Building Kidz, our teachers and our curriculum are, indeed, exceptional. While enrolled in our kindergarten program, children learn foundational skills in math, reading, writing, science, and a foreign language. Each of these subjects is taught by caring, qualified teachers whose heart is focused on the children’s best interest. Our children learn in multiple ways, including dance, song, and acting. By incorporating such performing arts methods with traditional teaching strategies, we help your child be exceptional today, tomorrow, and for their entire lives.

Why an After School Program?

Many of us do not want to send our children to after school programs. If it were up to us, we would be picking our kids up from school everyday or waiting for them at home with a fresh snack. In today’s world, though, that simply isn’t feasible for everyone. Either both parents are working to make ends meet, or a single parent is working twice as hard to make a great life for their children. We wish we could be with our kids everyday after school, but we can’t. What, then, should we do to ensure their short-term safety and long-term well being?

Multiple studies have been done on how, or if, kids benefit from after school programs. While different studies have focused on different aspects of such programs, the answer is clear: quality after school programs are beneficial for kids. The benefits have been summarized well: “Afterschool programs can boost academic performance, reduce risky behaviors, promote physical health, and provide a safe, structured environment for the children of working parents” (youth.gov). Not only will parents know their children are safe while at an after school program, they can also rest assured knowing that such a program is helping their children grow academically and socially.

An article at understood.org also discusses these benefits, but brings up additional ideas. It lists 6 benefits of quality after school programs:

1. Create a Sense of Belonging
2. Improve Social Skills
3. Provide Academic Support
4. Make Learning More Fun
5. Provide Safety and Supervision
6. Build Confidence

This can all come to a child by attending a quality after school program. If you, like many of us, are not able to be home with your children after school, the benefits that come from such a program could be life-changing. 

After School at Building Kidz

Not only does our after school program provide the benefits listed above, we also bring in a proprietary curriculum that encourages children to be social, creative, problem-solving learners. To help children make the most of what they learn in school each day, we provide a homework club. In the homework club, children work with each other and qualified teachers to ensure they understand the material. And, once children are done with their homework, we provide fun, engaging activities that promote learning and creativity.

Our proprietary after school curriculum introduces children to dance, music, and theater. They learn about various topics through the performing arts. Each child will also learn three-dimensional art by  sculpting in various ways, using different mediums from modeling clay to wood. And, for the scientists, we provide a robotics club that uses the LEGO Robotics Kit to help children learn the mechanics of how and why things work the way they do.

Whether your child is the quiet, studious type or the constantly moving type, Building Kidz’ after school program will provide an exceptional learning environment in which they will thrive.