Preschool activities are not only fun to the child, but will also equip them with stronger mentality and a broader scope of knowledge. Studies show that preschool activities have significant advantages for the child, such as:

1. Preschool programs maximize the phase of the child’s growing brain where it is like a sponge for learning, and as it rapidly develops.

During preschool, this is the right time to instill social and academic skills into a child that will help them during kindergarten and beyond.
2. They come out having richer vocabularies and better reading skills.
3. Preschool activities also equip the child with good math skills.
4. Through classroom activities, the child will learn how to speak up, raise their hand, and take turns with other students. This will also provide the child with improved self-confidence and self-esteem, making them more familiar in the world around them rather than afraid of it.
5. Socialization is another important benefit, because the methods and activities involved engage the students to interact with one another, share thoughts, ideas, learn, and have fun all while doing so.
6. Important life skills such as problem solving are another added benefit your child will get from preschool activities.
7. By the time your child enters kindergarten, preschool would have equipped them with the skills necessary to learn and evolve to a different environment where they will continue to learn, socialize, and adapt in more challenging situations.
8. Studies have also shown that children engaged in preschool activities are less likely to need public assistance when they enter adulthood, and are more capable of achievement and self-dependence.
9. Children who benefit from preschool activities are also more likely to graduate from high school and enter college.

Apart from the obvious academic and social skills that a child will gain during preschool, preschool activities will have an important impact on the long-term. These include:

• Less likelihood to be arrested;
• More capable of earning a higher income;
• More likely to lead healthy lives as good citizens of society;
• And less likely to be involved with crime.

The undeniable growing evidence of the importance of preschool activities has seen a rise in enrollment. It is a crucial point in time for a child to be developed and grow, so that they can lead good lives in family, their social circle, and society.

The fundamentals learned and achieved during this fragile time in a child’s life helps them to cope better with the challenges and obstacles that life brings, and allowing them to make more well-informed and better decisions for themselves and the people around them. Preschool activities will also enable the parent to focus on family, while the school takes care of the rest.

In particular there are religious reservations many parents have against the sort of sex education classes that are not based on the “Abstinence only” concept but also teach kids about safe sex.

However, there are many benefits of sex education which we have addressed briefly before as well:

Kids get the facts: Rather than half baked and often inaccurate information from peers, the children receive factually accurate and anatomically correct information.

Correct terms rather than slang or obscene street lingo can be learned by the kids.

Sex education classes are usually gender segregated so that there is no embarrassment among kids and they are taught what gender specific is; and what is important for them to know as a male or a female.

Several myths can help to be dispelled (for instance there is a popular but misguided belief among kids that you cannot get pregnant the “first time”).

Dangerous Behavior can be curtailed: There is the argument that sex Ed classes that are other than “abstinence only” can promote promiscuity.

However it has been seen that early sex Ed classes can actually help children remain abstinent or can help them act in a responsible manner if they do get sexually active. Sexual problems in later life are also seen to be avoided when sex education is given in a timely and effective manner.

Since sex education teaches responsible sexual behavior it can also control social problems such as teen pregnancies. Effective and comprehensive sex Ed can help kids develop skills in commutation, negotiation and refusal.

Teaching principles of safe sex to kids can also help to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. Sex education would typically educate children about the dangers of STDs, their modes of being transported and the ways to avoid them.

Teaching children about the dangers of STDs and explaining to them that the only real way to avoid them is abstinence, is an effective way of controlling teen sexual behavior.

And since it is naïve to expect kids to abstain, proper condom use has to be taught since it is the only other method to lower incidence of STDs. Also, matters of communication in situations when the other is unwilling to use a condom, is important to teach.

1. How to treat cold and flu in my child? Lots of fluids and rest is the key to recovery from these common ailments. Water or 100% fruit juice is a good idea particularly in the presence of symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Speak to your doctor about the pain relievers and decongestants that are OK to give your child (should be appropriate for the child’s age and symptoms).

Also speak to the school nurse to find out what infections going around school.

See a doctor in case of worsening or new symptoms or those that do not resolve within some days.

2. Is my child’s immunity compromised if other children not are being vaccinated? No, if your child is vaccinated, he or she is not likely to be compromised because of other children not being vaccinated.

3. What should the school do to protect children? The grounds should be kept clean, water fountains and other surfaces should be kept clean, particularly in flu season. Ask about the school’s plans in case of an outbreak and about instruction about hygiene given to kids.

1. Can my child go to school if she isn’t feeling well? The rule of thumb here is that if your child has a temperature of over 100 degrees, has body aches, seems drowsy, has been throwing up or coughing, keep her at home until symptom free for 24 hours. If the child just seems generally unwell, ask the school nurse to just keep an eye out for her.

2. What if my other child is ill? You should inform the school nurse that your other child is sick at home though the one who has been sent to school is symptom free.

At home remember to maintain healthy hygiene practices.

3. How can I identify the flu or a cold in my child? A cold could start with a sore throat and progress to sneezing, runny nose and even a temperature some of the time.

Though a cold will resolve in a week, symptoms can last much longer. Flu brings symptoms such as body aches, fever, congestion, sore throat, and weakness, even sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

1. How can I lessen anxiety about starting school for my child? Establish bedtimes well in advance of school starting. Do a survey of the school beforehand to familiarize the child. Any allergies or chronic conditions that a child has, should be conveyed to the school nurse in advance so that special care can be taken and specific remedies administered. If vaccines have to be given, relieve the child’s anxiety about them by explaining their importance.
2. How do illnesses spread in school? Respiratory droplets are what spread colds and flu infections. Not covering the mouth and nose while sneezing, touching door knobs, etc, can cause infection to spread.
3. How can a child be prevented from picking up illnesses at school? Educate children about the importance of washing hands before eating, after using the restroom as well as after playing outdoors. Proper sneeze etiquette and the importance of using an antibacterial gel should also be explained. It is also recommended that children be given a flu vaccine, for their own protection as well as that of others.

According to one of the trustees of the San Jose school, there is an attempt being made by the school to create “a culture of strong parent-guardian-family participation”. Even other schools in the area are considering the families of the students to perform a certain number of hours of volunteer work each year.

In general you could say that parental involvement in school activities and children’s education is an excellent thing and many are in favor of such an idea requiring mandatory involvement and participation from parents.

However, if you require parents to help out in schools, is this in fact an indication of a resource crunch in the schools?

Others on the hand advocate that rather than have parents volunteer in schools it would be better to engage with parents in matters of the child’s curriculum and even perhaps provide academic training to the parents for subjects such as reading and math.  Opponents also argue that this would place additional burdens on already burdened parents.

1. Great Family time: Many parents prefer not to be apart from their children for many hours of each week day.

Homeschooling means that parents and children spend quality time together and children who are homeschooled may be closer to one another, able to help out each other out. Homeschooled siblings grow together, with perhaps stronger family bonds than they would have otherwise.

2. Convenience: A child can set his or her own schedule according to what the parents deem fit, rather than have to conform to a schedule set at school.

Family holidays, wake up and bed times all need not be tailored to school schedules; rather the family can set their own.

3. Parents solve the problems children have: Rather than having to depend upon the teachers and other officials at school, or even the half baked knowledge of other kids, the children come straight to the parents with any questions or problems that they have.

Some of these may be difficult questions indeed, but there is the satisfaction of knowing that the child is getting accurate information that is neither harmful nor misleading.

If a child wonders where babies come from, the parents can tell them: accurately, sensitively and in an age appropriate manner. There would be none of the misinformation that could likely come from peers.

4. Parents learn too: As any teacher will tell you, teaching is as much learning as imparting knowledge. Parents able to brush up on their own knowledge and skills, they are also able to refresh their own memories. And as any wise person will tell you, children can be excellent teachers too!

5. The learning process can be practical and fun: It does not have to a formal or classroom setting for educating your child. You can teach about arithmetic as you go shopping, teach about chemistry and physics in everyday occurrences, and find your own ways of getting across knowledge and information to your child.

Parents may be right to be concerned about “corrupting minors with explicit sex,” which is a charge leveled by some, however it is important to focus on the kind of sex education imparted as part of the curriculum.

Parents also need to realize that many parents are reluctant or embarrassed to have that all important ‘Birds and Bees’ chat with their children and that their children then go and pick up some half baked and often inaccurate information from their friends and peers.

Also this is often done in a clandestine fashion that is certainly worse than a free and frank discussion in a class room setting?

Sex education can actually be a means of encouraging and promoting responsible sexual behavior among kids who are at an age of exploration and experimentation.

It would be naïve and misguided of parents to imagine that their children are not experimenting even in the absence of sex education; they may just be going about it the wrong or potentially dangerous way.

Source: Ottawa Citizen

This involves no formal schooling and is an educational philosophy that permits children to learn through their natural life experiences. There is no standard curriculum, rather there is child directed play, social interaction, household responsibilities, game play and work experience that are expected to be the teachers to a child.

This philosophy is based on the understanding that children are natural learners and that each child learns differently and therefore all children ought not to be subject to the same curriculum.

Critics of this concept claim that when children are simply left to their own devices they will turn to the TV, video games and other undesirable activities. Critics believe this is an excuse for parents to be renegades and not do anything about educating their children.

They even believe that this is hand-off parenting that should be made illegal since it permits the children to have no set bedtime, rules or chores which is not suitable or desirable.

There is also the apprehension that children subject to un-schooling are likely to have poor social skills, may lack peer motivation, suffer from lack of structure in their lives and even find it difficult to find jobs later in life.

Source: Mom Logic

It can be challenging and many parents may not feel it is the best option for them. But generally speaking, the homeschooling option is one that is chosen for any of the following top ten reasons:

1. Personalized attention: First and foremost is the kind and quality of education that a child receives when he or she is homeschooled. Typically a parent is able to devote one on one attention to a child, so that the child is not lost in a large class of children.

The child is not overlooked, or is not likely to fall behind in class if he or she is receiving the singular and devoted attention of his or her teacher, which in this case is the parent. Weaknesses in any particular subject can be paid more attention to, and there is no possibility of the child missing lessons.

2. Safety and well being: There is no chance that your child is being bullied, or being subject to intimidation or sexual abuse of the sort that could happen in the school environment. Your child will not get into an accident in school or on the way to school. Also if unwell you are best able to monitor your child’s well being.

3. Control over education: A parent has control over what a child learns when he or she is in a homeschooling environment. A parent is able to pass on the fund of their own knowledge and experiences as well as pass on their own values and moral understanding of subjects to their children.

Parents are better able to impart their religious beliefs and personal ethics to children whom they educate personally. Parents don’t have to wonder what their child is being taught in school, and don’t have to fret at the things that are or are not taught.

There may be things taught that parents do not agree with, equally there may be things that parents wished were taught in school. With homeschooling they have that control.

4. The program can be tailored to a child: The child does not have to keep up with the speed of other children. If he or she is very good in a particular subject not as much time needs to be devoted to it; conversely if a child is weak and need extra attention, this is also available.

5. The Parent can share in that Aha! Moment: It is the sheer joy of watching a child imbibe new things in life and enjoying the education process that is a benefit of homeschooling.

As a parent explains the mysteries of the universe to a child and the child’s eyes round with wonder and excitement; this can be a matchless moment for the homeschooling parent and can make it all worthwhile.