In the United States, more than 80% of children spend some time in day care before they are four years old. However, as more and more studies have been done, the general consensus is that “some time” may not be enough time. The fact is that when parents make the decision to find a preschool program for their children, they are choosing not only a high quality means for child care, but also a way of improving their children’s success in life.

Why Parents Need to Find a Preschool

• Greater Academic Success

  One of the biggest reasons why parents are looking into quality childcare is because of its impact on academics. The average two year old learns five new words a day. Through daycare, children are given the tools to reinforce this learning. This is one reason why, according to Democracy and Regulation, preschools can improve high school graduation rates by 20%.

• Less Trouble with the Law

  While academia is an important part of what family day care providers offer, new research shows that the social aspects may be even more important. Preschools help our children to develop personally, emotionally, economically, and socially. Subsequently, according to a study of low-income children in Chicago, preschool attendees are 28% less likely to develop drug or alcohol addictions and have problems with the law than children who never receive preschool education.

• Higher Earning Potential

  According to a study by William Barnett of Rutgers University, children who attend preschool are more likely to be professionally and financially successful. The study showed that 40 year old adults who had attended preschool were more likely to have higher salaries and have better chances of keeping their jobs.

  What to Look for in a Daycare

  Of course, not every program for child care is created equally. Parents looking to find a preschool that has a positive effect on their children should take the following into consideration.

  • Accreditation

    Accreditation, or licensing, of a program is crucial when trying to find a preschool of quality. As the NAEYC for Families writes, accreditation shows that preschools have submitted their curriculum, facility, and staff to a rigorous vetting process, ensuring they offer quality programs for all attendees.

  • Teacher Qualifications

    According to the Child Care Resource Center, preschool teachers in California must have at least an associates degree. However, ongoing research shows that preschool teachers with college degrees have an even greater positive impact of preschool attendance on children. Parents should not neglect knowing who it is they are entrusting their child’s care to.

  • Keep an Eye Open for Safety

    One of the best ways to find a preschool that is as safe for our children as it is educational is to take a look around the facility. As the CCRC writes, while licensing is proof of the facility’s safety, parents need to go the extra mile in checking for smoke detectors, a well cleaned facility, and appliances and furniture that are well maintained to ensure the safety of their children.

  There can be no doubt that the successful search to find a preschool can improve the lives of American children. However, there are preschools, and there are quality preschools. Parents looking to find the latter should keep these important tips in mind.

NEW YORK (AP) – Any parent knows that a daytime nap can help keep preschoolers from getting cranky. Now a small study suggests that it helps them learn, too. The lesson for grown-ups: Don’t cut out the naps if you try to cram more learning activities into a preschooler’s day, say researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

They studied 40 children, ages 3 to 5. In the mornings of test days, the children were shown a grid with pictures of nine or 12 items like a cat or an umbrella. That afternoon and the next morning, the children were tested on how well they remembered the location of each image.

All the children were tested under two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to nap before the afternoon test, and another in which they were kept awake. Without a nap, they were about 65 percent accurate. With a nap, their accuracy reached about 75 percent.

The research shows that “naps are important for preschool children,” Rebecca Spencer, senior author of the study, said in a statement.
The study was published Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Did you know that, according to national statistics, more than 80% of children spend some time in a daycare program by the time they are four years old? Daycare first developed in France in the middle of the 19th century. The French government officially recognized a childcare organization, the Société des Crèches, in 1869. According to social.jrank.org, the first public child care preschool program in the U.S. began in 1925 in Chicago, with the support of the Chicago Women’s Club.

During the Second World War, the United States government sponsored daycare for 400,000 preschool children. It was during this time that discoveries of the benefits of educational childcare systems began. Ostensibly, childcare has only grown more crucial to the success of our children. Here are three of the most important benefits of daycare.

Now is the Time to Learn a New Language
Did you know that the human brain is most open to new information within the first few years of life? As the Riggs Institute writes, children’s brains are often said to be like sponges because they can absorb information more readily than those of older people. Programs for child care offer your child the opportunity to become bilingual. If you want that for your child, there is no better time to learn than when they are young.

Help to Develop Better Sleeping Habits
Unfortunately, 75% of American children under the age of five experience a sleep-related problem. WebMD writes that establishing a solid sleeping routine for your children is key to their health. Our children require much more sleep than adults; on average 11 hours a night. Daycare professionals can help give your kids healthier sleeping habits through physical activity, daily naps, and proper nutrition.

Preschool Attendees Are Far More Successful
According to the National Head Start Association, enrolling your child in a quality preschool program is key to continued academic success throughout their life. For instance, children who complete a head start program, such as those offered by high quality daycare programs, are far more likely to finish high school than their peers who did not attend such a program.

The benefits do not stop there. According to TIME, preschool attendees are 28% less likely to develop an alcohol abuse problem. Further, the likelihood of their being arrested for a felony drops 22% when they have attended a daycare program.

As you can see, enrolling your child in a high quality daycare program is key to their success. Preschool educators can help your children to become bilingual, instill healthy sleeping habits, and help them to be more successful throughout their lives. Now that you know, why would you not enroll your child?