Child care facilities provide a foundation for early childhood education. Child care facilities teach children academic and social skills that will help them succeed in kindergarten.

For many children, child care facilities are their first experience in a structured environment. Like kindergarten, child care facilities give children an opportunity to be around other children and a teacher. They must learn to share toys and materials with their classmates. They must learn to follow a teacher’s instructions. In addition, they start to learn basic academic concepts that will be further developed in kindergarten.

These days, early childhood education places more and more rigorous academic demands on children. They are expected to read and master many math concepts before they leave kindergarten. By attending a reputable child care facility, children will get a head start learning these academic skills which will lead to them being prepared for kindergarten. Many child care facilities even hire certified teachers with degrees in early childhood education.

In child care facilities, children also learn to get along and play with one another. These are important developmental milestones that children who stay alone with a caregiver do not get to experience. People who work in child care facilities are trained to understand the different stages of children’s social, cognitive, physical, and emotional development. They can help children reach their social, cognitive, physical, and emotional developmental milestones. They are trained to create a schedule for the children that will allow time for academics and play. Children who attended a child care facility will be more comfortable starting school since they have had a similar experience already.

Attending a child care facility is also good for children’s mental health. They provide secure and caring environments. Children need to feel security and that they are cared for in order to learn. It is also good for children to spend time away from their parents and learn to trust other adults. This will help to prevent separation anxiety when it’s time for children to start kindergarten. Child care facilities teach children to form a relationship with their teacher and with their classmates. Children tend to thrive with they have a consistent routine. Childcare facilities routinely are consistent with their schedules.

Parents can learn a lot about their children’s development from their child care facility. Almost all facilities provide screenings detecting possible development delays. If a delay is detected, parents can learn about the services available to help their children.