The Importance of A Structured Preschool Program

Aug 8

Written By Lindsay Priest

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Let’s Get Started:

If you are a parent/teacher, you know that children are not all the same. They’re unique individuals with different needs and desires. This is especially true when it comes to preschoolers, who will test their independence at every opportunity. That’s why some parents may be tempted to treat their toddler like they would an older child—and others might feel like they need to give in to their kid's every whim so they can avoid tantrums! But how do you know what approach is best? In this article we'll explore what makes preschool programs structured (and why it matters), as well as some common mistakes parents make when thinking about structure for their own children. (and thats ok!)

Repetition is SO Important:

You may have heard the phrase "Repetition is the mother of all learning." The repetition of a structured preschool program is paramount to your child's success in school and later life.

Repetition helps children learn to follow directions, stay focused and follow rules. It also helps them develop patience and persistence—two traits that will serve them well as they progress through school and life.

Routine Improves Behavior:

Children like to know what is coming next. It helps them feel more confident and organized, which leads to better behavior. At LP&C, we thrive on structure and our daily schedule! These kiddos know their daily routine by heart and know exactly what is coming next. This helps also, when we have new kiddos join us in our program. Our current kiddos love to help their new friends figure out our daily routine/schedule and rules!

Children have a sense that they are in control and secure when they have a routine, because then they don’t need to worry about things like “what if I forget something?” or “what if no one shows up?” Having a routine highly lessens a child’s anxiety as they transition into a new environment, or even just at home!

Structure Reinforces Confidence:

Children can feel safe and secure when they know what’s expected of them, which helps alleviate anxiety and build self-esteem.
Structure allows children to feel less anxious about their environment, as well as more confident in their ability to navigate it independently.
A structured preschool program provides a predictable routine and establishes dependable boundaries for children — which makes it easier for them to navigate their lives with confidence and control.

Children Need Time to Play and Explore:

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince.

While this quote is not about preschoolers, it does highlight one important aspect of learning that many children aren't getting enough of: play. Play isn't just about having fun or playing with toys or other kids; it's also about exploring new environments (like a forest) or working independently on art projects. You don't need any fancy toys or technology to do those things! All you need is some imagination and an appetite for exploration...and maybe some snacks along the way! Play has been proven to help children learn quicker, also! In my program I sometimes need to look for a certain skill in a child that may not be easy to assess during our structured Circle Time. This is when I will put out “intentional items” for the child to play with, so I can identify the skill that I’m looking for. If you have a student, or even your own kiddo, and you’re not sure how well they may be doing with a certain skill, you can easily incorporate a toy/item into their play to help in this process. Play can be intentional/structured, even without your kiddo knowing that it is!

A structured preschool emphasizes group activities to improve social connections:

Group activities are an important part of a structured preschool. In group settings, children learn to work together and share their ideas. They also learn how to take turns and accept responsibility for their actions. Group activities help children develop patience as they wait their turn to speak or participate in an activity.

Learning should be enjoyable and participatory:

To ensure that your child's preschool experience is the most enjoyable that it can be, you must allow them to explore and experiment. Children are natural learners, and they will learn much more when they have a sense of ownership over their own learning process.

The best way to encourage this kind of active participation in the classroom is by encouraging your child to ask questions about what they're learning. While there are certainly times when it's important for a teacher or parent to provide answers for these questions (especially if the answer isn't immediately apparent), allowing children time to ask questions on their own gives them an opportunity for critical thinking skills that cannot be replicated in any other way.

Encouraging creativity allows children the freedom necessary for personal growth; it also helps foster confidence in themselves as individuals who are capable of making important decisions independently—a skill which is vital throughout life!

Children need time to build relationships with peers and teachers:

Children need to feel comfortable in their environment.
They need to know that there are people they can trust.
They need to feel safe.
They need to feel that they belong.
They need to know that they are loved and important, which is the first step towards a healthy self-esteem!
Without these huge needs being met, children are less likely to be able to learn. Instead, kiddos will be focused more on possibly being anxious/scared/nervous instead of being able to focus on their play and learning activities. Creating a connection first, is the MOST important thing to do!

Kids enjoy a certain amount of independence and responsibility at any age:

You will see children have a spike of wanting to be more independent, around the age of 2! Kids of this age are at the perfect stage for preschool. They have enough independence to have fun and do what they want, but still need some guidance. And as every parent knows, getting your kid to do something that is not in their best interest can be a real struggle! But this is also the time when kids learn to take responsibility for their actions and start learning how to be accountable for their choices. Joining a Preschool Program, at this age, will help your child tremendously, with all of these skills!

Schedules are an important part of life, and the sooner children get used to them the better:

Schedules are an important part of life, and the sooner children get used to them the better. The more their time is organized, the better they'll be able to handle it when they're back in school full time. Let's take a look at some of the ways that preschool schedules help kids develop:

Schedules help children learn to manage their emotions. When there's a schedule for everything, it helps kids understand what is expected and when it's expected. This helps them anticipate how they might feel about different situations, so they can be ready with coping mechanisms if something unexpected happens. By establishing structure around activities like bedtime and meal times, we can also help our kids learn how when it’s time for their body to relax.
Schedules teach responsibility by letting everyone know exactly what needs doing at each point during the day (and even minute-by-minute). If there aren't clear expectations set forth for everyone involved with raising children then confusion reigns supreme! Having these rules laid out ahead of time allows parents (and other caregivers) plenty of time before problems occur so that solutions can be found without too much difficulty later on down road..

Preschool programs that utilize structure help prepare children for future education, at the same time as fostering confidence and independence:

Preschool programs that utilize structure help prepare children for future education, at the same time as fostering confidence and independence. Here are some ways a structured preschool program can help your child:

Structure allows for repetition - repetition is an important tool in learning! It helps children build cognitive skills, such as recognizing patterns, sequencing steps and completing tasks. Repetition also allows you to teach new skills in a gradual way so they can be easily picked up by your little one.
Structure provides routines - routines allow children to have more independence when they go through the day-to-day motions of life. Routines are especially helpful when you need your preschooler to complete certain tasks independently (like brushing teeth), so you don't have to constantly be there telling them what to do next! Having these set expectations will reduce anxiety around routine changes (like going back home after school) as well!
Structure encourages playtime – playtime is an essential part of childhood development because it allows kids' imaginations run wild without worrying about adult responsibilities like homework or chores! However, sometimes having too much unstructured time can lead us into boredom territory...and that's why we need some rules here!