Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten is defined as a classroom-based program that provides experiences for children. Pre-k programs are often offered by schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, or other nonprofits. Most states require pre-k teachers to have at least an associate’s degree in early childhood education, and many states and cities offer professional development and financial incentives for teachers.
Pre-K is a time for children to learn social skills, as well as some of the basics that they will need to know when they enter school. In some school systems, children might be able to meet their public library’s pre-reading requirements by attending a pre-kindergarten program. This will allow them to be prepared for the first grade, which is typically when children begin to learn how to read.
It can be either childcare or a playgroup where children study and play under the supervision of an adult who tries to stimulate them cognitively and physically with special emphasis on problems solving skills. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in the U.S., about three-, four- and five-year-olds are in preprimary programs, which include kindergarten and preschool.
Pre-kindergarten is a key step in a child’s development and education. Pre-kindergarten provides children with the opportunity to take responsibility for their own actions, meet new people, master fine motor skills such as using scissors and learning how to count to 100 or more. The purpose of Pre-K is to introduce very young children to formal learning experiences, usually in preparation for the introduction of primary school. This may be done in an integrated environment that promotes experience beyond what would be available just inside a home or outside the home environment.