From the very first week of school, kindergarten teachers noticed differing levels of preparedness among their students. Now, nearly three months into the school year, the contrast is stark.
Across the country, working families have one thing in common: a need to find safe, affordable, quality care for their children. In 35 states, the cost of childcare now exceeds public college tuition, pricing it beyond the reach of even many middle class families.
In addition to assisting the teachers with their tasks on kindergarten registration day, helping make copies or translating for parents, the UCI members are there to conduct research on the topic of “kindergarten readiness.” This term, although it can have different meanings for people, includes a few main skills that children entering kindergarten should have.
Is your child ready for kindergarten? One of the ways you can help children prepare for kindergarten is simply to read books to them about kindergarten. Reading these kinds of books is a good way to help them get excited about learning and ease their fears of the unknown.
We've all heard the parable that no one nearing the end of life wishes he or she had spent more time at work. Here, at The Urban Child Institute, we have a similar parable, but we say no one nears the end of life and says: "I wish I hadn't given so much attention to my children."
Education Can't Wait Until Age 5
Pre-K matters. This simple but profoundly important statement is the title of an infographic on the website of The Urban Child Institute. Pre-K is an investment with high returns. We have known for a while that early education, specifically pre-K, pays off in a student's success in school. Children who have experienced quality pre-K education are less likely to need special education or repeat a grade, and are more likely to graduate from high school and go to college.