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Nelson Mandela, the well-known statesmen, once said, "Education is the great engine to personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that the child of a farm worker can become the president of a great nation."
The truth of this statement can only be fully appreciated if one considers the enormous importance of preschool education . The famous Japanese violin teacher and educationist, Shinichi Suzuki, once expressed a great truism when he said, "The destiny of children lies in the hands of their parents." The direction and the quality of this destiny are largely determined — by the parents — in the first seven years of the child's life.
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| 1. |
As parents, why should we care about preschool learning?
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There are three key reasons why we should not only concern ourselves with our child's preschool education but become actively involved in it as well.
Firstly, preschool education is the foundation for a child's education. The skills and knowledge that a child develops in the preschool years will have a dramatic impact on his success in school as well as in later life. Today we expect children to know more by the time they start kindergarten. Today's children are expected to possess these basic skills by the time they start kindergarten.
Secondly, preschool education develops self esteem in the child. Confidence makes the child an eager lifelong learner.
Thirdly, preschool education can give the child the edge in a competitive world. Children who do not receive preschool education will still be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colours when they begin primary school, but they will be behind the children who already possess the skills learned in preschool. |
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| 2. |
Does preschool mean learning in a formal establishment or kindergarten? |
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Preschool learning does not necessarily mean a formal preschool establishment or kindergarten. The child can be at home with the parent. The important thing is that the child learns the skills he needs to prepare for school. |
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| 3. |
What areas of development does preschool learning put emphasis on? |
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The primary development in preschoolers are |
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emotional development |
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social development |
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physical development |
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intellectual (cognitive) development |
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language development |
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personal development |
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communication development |
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knowledge and understanding of the world |
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creative and aesthetic development |
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mathematical awareness and development |
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| 4. |
What are the long-term effects of a solid foundation in preschool education? |
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Preschool education lays the foundation for individuals to develop fully and to contribute to their communities in ways that foster economic growth, social stability, and prosperity.
It may be useful to think of this analogy:
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A child’s life is largely centred on his social interactions: in school, at home, and with his friends. Think of these three as pillars around which he develops his intellectual, social, emotional, language and motor skills. We can say that the child’s early education is the foundation on which these three pillars stand. |
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Only with a strong foundation can the pillars be stable enough to support the roof – the ultimate realization of the child’s potential to be the best that he can be. |
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By letting your child spend his time at home with a home learning programme, you are helping him build the strong foundation he needs to aim higher and further. Any additional effort he puts in is not for repair, but to enhance an already impressive structure. |
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| 5. |
What elements should I look out for in a home learning programme? |
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An effective home learning programme should have the following elements: |
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Multimedia |
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Contiguity |
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Modality |
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Signalling |
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Interactivity |
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| 6. |
What does each of them mean in relation to cognitive learning in preschoolers? |
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| 1 |
Multimedia Principle |
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Learning from words and pictures results in deeper learning than learning from words alone. Multimedia allows learning to move from text and data into the realm of graphics, sound, images, and full-motion video. It allows us to use the power of computers and provides the preschooler with a multi-sensory experience in learning. The Multimedia Principle addresses the concept of dual channel input in cognitive learning. |
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Contiguity Principle |
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Children learn better when corresponding words and pictures are presented near rather than far from one another in space and in time.
The use of immediate concept reinforcements, flash cards and picture boards are applications of this principle. |
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Modality Principle |
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Children learn better from animation and narration rather than animation and on-screen text. |
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Signalling Principle |
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Children learn better when guidance is provided for directing their attention.
Contiguity, Modality and Signalling Principles are designed to overcome memory capacity limitations in cognitive learning. |
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Interactivity Principle |
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Children learn better when they can control the order and pace of presentation. |
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