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learning
about early education by pamela kleibrink thompson a parent of a precocious four- year-old inquired, ?how do you know when your child
is ready for kindergarten?? marvin jacobson, author of educating the total child: straight from my heart: six decades of inspiring children
, parents and teachers , responded, ?it depends on the child.? but, how does a parent assess their child, decide when to begin her formal education, and choose an appropriate school for her? children learning doesn't start for them in kindergarten. ?early learning begins in the womb,? shares lynn carmouche, owner of the learning center in baton rouge. parents are their child's first teacher. early eye contact, hand holding, all interactions between a parent and child are critical to a child?s development. ?children are naturally curious,? notes cynthia fontcuberta dicarlo, phd, the executive director of the early childhood education laboratory preschool at lsu. ?encourage your children to ask questions and explore.? dicarlo believes it is detrimental to focus on academics in pre-kindergarten and preschool. ?don?t start with pencil and paper. support what children are interested in. read to them. go to the library and the zoo. learning opportunities are everywhere.? parental interaction with their child? talking, singing, and playing rhyming games?helps stimulate language and vocabulary development, and builds important foundations for learning to read. studies show that children with early education have stronger language, pre-mathematics, and social skills. how can you help your child get a good start? make learning fun! help your toddler develop a love of learning by: ? reading aloud. if your child won?t sit still for the entire story, change the name of the protagonist to your child?s name. reading to your child is the best thing a parent can do for him. ? building art smarts. encourage your child to express himself with a variety of media. this activity will improve his hand-eye coordination and also helps to strengthen his hand and finger muscles. ? discovering nature. teach your child to use her senses, and she?ll learn to become a trained observer just like her favorite scientist. preschool can lay a good foundation. to find a good preschool, start searching several months before you want to enroll your child. you?ll want a preschool that is in a convenient location near your work or home, with operating hours that work with your schedule. determine if you want a preschool with a religious affiliation, one that practices the montessori teaching method, or any other specific preferences. carmouche advises parents to ask about the education and training of teachers and management. ?watch the interactions between the children and adults. look at the kids? faces. are they excited about learning? what kind of interactions are occurring between the children? look for programs that allow physical activity. early childhood education should encourage inquisitive thinking, the joy of learning new things.? lindsey all, mother of a five and one year old, is ?a research junkie. i read reviews online, read about the 3 8 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | a u g u s t 2 0 1 9
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