Human is a biocultural and sociocultural being. The child is together with society from birth. While this society is small at first, it expands and grows over time. Development during childhood is very important in order to grow up as a healthy individual in this society.
Early childhood has an important place in many areas such as the child's emotional, physical, cognitive and social development. Research particularly emphasizes the importance of the period up to the age of 6. During this period, children should be exposed to quality personal care and learning opportunities. The child starts learning from birth. A quality education provided at an early age has a long-lasting impact on a child's life. For example, speech development affects every aspect of a child's life. Children understand and use words better through conversation and books. Places that provide pre-school education, such as nurseries and kindergartens, offer the child a more enjoyable learning environment. In addition, play is important in children's learning and emotional development. Play gives children social skills and experience in communicating with people. It develops values and ethics. Activities such as cutting, pasting and painting improve children's motor skills. Through games, children reveal their thinking, reasoning, problem solving and creativity abilities.
Piaget; He calls children's attribution of different functions and tasks to objects as ''pretend play''. For example, a child can use a water bottle as a phone. Piaget says that this allows the child to express himself and interpret the events in his life. In addition, games that include this enable the child to use his emotions, develop his social skills, and provide a rich imagination. Games with special rules teach children to act together, understand each other and think logically.
For nearly 50 years, researchers have been investigating the effect of preschool education on child development. Studies have shown that pre-school education has an impact on the child's socioeconomic development, school success and cognitive development. Its positive effect on mental health has also been observed. While improving social skills, grade repetition, arrow It has been observed that it minimizes child problems and special education needs.
According to a study conducted in Tulsa, Head Start (pre-school education program provided to children of low-income families in the United States) improves literacy, mathematics, cognitive It has been found to have a great impact on abilities and language development. Another study, called the Perry Study, found no effect of preschool education on IQ, but found a permanent effect on achievement tests in secondary school. It has also been observed that pre-school education reduces the rate of crime at a young age, minimizes the need for special education and increases success in school.
Many other studies have proven that a well-designed pre-school education has an impact on the child's development. Some have compared preschool education to others; those receiving pre-school education, those receiving out-of-home child care and those not receiving pre-school education. According to the analysis of pre-school education studies, it has been shown that pre-school education has an effect on the cognitive development of children.
In the light of many studies emphasizing the importance of pre-school education, the Australian government made it mandatory for children to receive pre-school education before starting school in 2008-2009. made it. In addition, as a result of the long-term research known as "Effective Rules of Preschool Education (EPPE)" in the USA, it was found that the better the quality education the child receives, the better his language development, and also that starting pre-school education early has statistically significant effects on early literacy skills, motor skills, and motor skills. It has been observed that it has a great impact on the development of behavior, cognitive abilities, speech and language, working memory, social development and behavioral development. These are the features that enable the child to prepare for school life and carry it out more comfortably. The results obtained with early and quality pre-school education are better and more effective. While policy in America aims to reach children under the age of 4 for pre-school education, it offers more opportunities for this to children growing up in disadvantaged areas.
La Greca argues that children's acceptance by their peers has a huge impact on their lives. At this stage, fusion and Being able to communicate with people is very important. As children begin to socialize between the ages of 2-6, they begin to learn how to behave in society. Learning to play games, share toys, and talk helps develop problem-solving skills.
In summary, subjecting your children to a quality pre-school program will be an investment that they will benefit from throughout their lives.
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