Toddler Tips: Why Preschool Shouldn't Be Like School

Preschool is a stepping stone for toddlers before they would transition into the big school. But studies reveal that preschools shouldn't be like regular school.

Kids being taught regular lessons at an early age may do more harm than good, according to Slate. Toddlers shouldn't be pressured to develop logical workloads such as reading and writing. Preschools shouldn't be like a regular school as it is only a place for toddlers to develop their social skills. It should be an outlet for toddlers to develop their creativity and enhance their imagination. Preschool should also have activities that would help toddlers progress by the time they'd reach regular school.

The study "The double-edged sword of pedagogy: Instruction limits spontaneous exploration and discovery" which was reported in Science Direct stated that having a child follow specific instructions prohibits them to explore and discover. The study implied that young children should be given the freedom to explore their boundaries and discover new things on their own.

There are several things that should be taught in preschool, most of which includes developing their social skills and allowing them to enhance their curiosity and creativity. Parents website mentioned that kids are expected to learn their letters in preschool, and they would also be able to recognize some basic meaningful words such as mom and dad. They are also expected to learn basic colors, shapes and a little arithmetic. Though these things are being prioritized, most preschools focused on the child's social skills and their EQ.

"If they feel good about themselves and know how to feel proud even if they make a mistake, everything else will fall into place," Josie Meade said, a teacher at the Creative Kids preschool in Manhattan Beach, California. "Allow children to fall down and make mistakes and feel that it's okay. They move on and learn from it for the next time."