All parents want their children to do well in life and the best way to do that is by giving them a head start. This is possible through the use of early childhood education programs. There are many to choose from and it is important to consider everything to find out the best option for you and your child.
Early childhood education programs – Preschool
Preschool at a public school is something that is widely popular. The programs are often funded by the state, which means that they are options for families on any type of income – especially those on a lower one. There are different names for these early childhood education programs, including Pre-kindergarten and Universal Preschool.
The schools will differ between districts and states and the availability will also be affected.
Not all states have something like this but many are looking to add them to the list. There are some programs that are available for children as young as three and it will help to prepare them for kindergarten.
The head start program
These programs are also funded federally and for families that have a low income. They are for children between the ages of zero and three and are also known as the Early Head Start Program. There are Head Start programs all over the country and available in a variety of states and district.
A child will need to be enrolled onto the program, which can be done through a Head Start office local to you. The good news is that this is also available to children who have psychological or medical conditions, which is something that many other early childhood education programs will not offer. Like the Preschool option, these programs will help to prepare a child for the first year in kindergarten. They also help parents know about how they can help child development.
The Waldorf Program
This is something available for children of a variety of ages. There are early childhood education programs for infants to six-years-old and they go up to the age of 18. The idea is that children develop and learn differently at different stages of their life so the program is split into three age groups.
The teacher on the program will do and teach activities that are practical, artistic and domestic. The children are then asked to mimic this. There is a large emphasis on imagination by encouraging storytelling and putting on plays to help with learning.
The Montessori Program
This is an Italian based program and is offered to children between the ages of three and six; there are some programs that are offered to younger children. The children learn through hand-on means and they are directed instead of taught.
Many of these programs are only available through private schools and they are aimed at the higher earning families; however, there are some available for lower income families through public schools.
These are just four early childhood education programs available for young children. A younger brain is able to pick up much more, so it makes sense to give a child the best start in life.
