Resources
Zero To Three
Transition to Preschool
If your child is starting preschool this fall, you may be approaching this major milestone with conflicting emotions. You’re probably excited about all the fun your child will have and the new friends he or she will make. At the same time, you may feel a little sad that your baby is venturing out into the big world without you. These emotions are normal. Your child is also bound to have a host of feelings about this transition, feeling proud to be a big kid but at the same time worried about being separated from you and starting something unfamiliar.
Families are young children’s first and most important teachers. Head Start and Early Head Start programs work with families as equal partners to support children’s ongoing development and learning. This work can help families achieve positive outcomes for themselves and their children.
The Importance of Play in ECE
Why is play important in early childhood?
Play is the true work of childhood. There’s a lot happening during playtime. Little ones are lifting, dropping, looking, pouring, bouncing, hiding, building, knocking down, and more. Children are busy when they’re playing. And, more than that, they are learning. They are learning key scientific concepts, such as what sinks and floats; mathematical concepts, including how to balance blocks to build a tower; and literacy skills, such as trying out new vocabulary or storytelling skills as children “act out” different roles.
When your children play with you, they are also learning that they are loved, important and that they are fun to be around. These social-emotional skills give them the self-esteem and self-confidence they need to continue building loving and supportive relationships all their lives.
