Ask any kindergarten teacher to point out which of their students attended preschool and which did not, and most will know right off the bat.
   
Preschool matters, since the first five years of a child’s life are a crucial developmental period. A wide body of research has found that children who are stimulated during these years and attend a high-quality preschool are more prepared for formal reading and math, and are more likely to have the social skills they need for kindergarten.
     
“One of the primary reasons for putting children in preschool is socialization and interaction with peers and adults other than family members,” says Cathy Wietstock, manager of Early Childhood Education for the Orange County Department of Education. “We need to provide children with opportunities to separate and become resilient.”

Call it kindergarten-prep school
Rae Douglas, director of the academic-minded preschool at the Fairmont Private School’s Citron campus in Anaheim, says a focus on preparing children for kindergarten is critical. Preschoolers get a head start on academic skills, such as early reading and math, and, equally important, they learn to share, solve problems, ask questions and communicate.
   
Indeed, more than nine out of 10 kindergarten teachers throughout California believe it is important for children to attend preschool before kindergarten, according to a 2005 statewide poll of California public-school kindergarten teachers. The poll was initiated by the advocacy group Preschool California (preschoolcalifornia.org), which supported a failed ballot initiative in 2006 to provide free preschool to all 4-year-olds in California whose parents chose to enroll them.

The poll found that:
> Ninety-five percent of teachers said children who attended preschool are better prepared to start kindergarten and are more ready to learn.
> Eighty-eight percent said they spent extra time working on basic skills with the children who did not have the benefit of preschool, resulting in these teachers having less time to spend with more advanced students.
> Ninety-three percent said they could tell, without looking at student records, which kids in their classrooms had attended preschool, based on their behavior and skills.

Efforts to bolster local programs
More than 200 parents, educators, school officials, agency reps, preschool providers and others are collaborating with the Orange County Department of Education on a seven-year comprehensive plan to improve preschools and increase access. A report will be released later this year.
   
In Anaheim, the Magnolia Elementary School District and the Anaheim City School District are implementing a pilot program to bring preschool to all of their school campuses, a plan OCDE’s Wietstock hopes can be replicated countywide.
   
Meanwhile, the state Office of Education is working with county offices of education and the California Preschool Instructional Network to develop standards for preschool, called “foundations for high-quality learning,” which any state-funded preschool would have to adopt.
   
Orange County educators also hope to increase access to preschool. Like many counties, Orange County has more preschool-aged children than preschool spaces. Orange County has more than 45,238 children who are eligible for preschool, says Wietstock. However, including Head Start programs, private child care and public and private preschools, the county has only 23,529 slots. Wietstock estimates that about half of preschool-age children go either a half-day or all day.

What children learn in preschool
Public and private preschools vary widely in the programs they offer, mixing playtime with structured learning and academics. In preschool, children also learn important independent work skills that help prepare them for kindergarten, says Jean Melo, preschool director at the Early Explorations Preschool in San Clemente.
   
“We take the whole-child approach,” says Melo. “Our program is play-based, but we infuse a lot of academics into that. The other things we focus on are social interaction, following directions, sitting-in-circle time, keeping your hands to yourself and focusing on what the teacher is teaching – as well as self-help skills.”
   
At the Marina View Preschool and Kindergarten in Laguna Niguel, the children have a structured day with lots of academics. “Kids do better in a structured environment. It gives them self-confidence and
a better self-image,” says Preston Kratz, who owns and operates the school with
his wife, Beverly.
   
Marina View offers half-day and full-day preschool classes. Two-year-olds learn about colors, shapes, the alphabet, and simple Spanish numbers and words; 3-year-olds trace and write letters and numbers, and do activities that promote fine motor skills; and 4-year-olds focus on writing and phonics; they also do science projects and work on computers. n


The benefits of preschool

Children who attend preschool are:
> More likely to graduate from high school and attend college
> Less likely to be placed in special education classes or be held back a grade
> Less likely to need public assistance as adults
> Less likely to be
arrested, involved in drugs
or crime, or incarcerated
> More likely to be employed
> More likely to earn a higher income
> More likely to lead healthy lives

Source:  Preschool California


Tips on choosing a quality preschool

> Curriculum: Inquire about the curriculum. It should include a variety of activities that are age-appropriate.
> Staff: What degrees and training do teachers have? How long have teachers been there? Teachers who are in the program longer establish stronger bonds with kids.
> Family ties: Can you visit your child during the day?
> Facilities: Check that the program or school is licensed by the state, which means it follows state and federal requirements regarding health and safety issues. Facilities should be clean and well-maintained, indoors and out, and have lots of toys and resources for children.
> Child-teacher ratio: The NAEYC recommends at least one adult for every 10
4-year-olds; Preschool California says effective pre-K programs should have at least one teacher and assistant teacher, and no more than 20 children per class. n

Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc.org)

Amy Bentley is a contributing writer to OC Family magazine.