Seven C’s of Preschool

By DR. DAN BRENNAN - June 26, 2009

What do books, basketballs and bearded dragons have in common? They happen to be a few of our son’s favorite things about preschool.

Today marks a special milestone in the Brennan family. Our oldest son is graduating from Evergreen Learning Center and will be on his way to kindergarten. Josh has grown in so many ways and we feel grateful that he had a chance to cultivate his “Seven C’s” of preschool.

Comfort and confidence

Preschool encourages children to develop a comfort level outside of their own homes. Camaraderie with other children and interactions with teachers allows young children to evaluate and express their own feelings. A year or two of preschool will help foster the confidence and self-esteem essential to thriving in kindergarten and beyond.

Creativity

I love coming home from work to be greeted by Josh. He is always eager to show me an art project, sing me a new song or quiz me on a new word that he learned in Spanish.

All preschool programs offer educational opportunities and some may even provide early exposure to extracurricular activities such as art, music, cooking and in some cases a second language.

Critters and creepy crawlies

When we visit the Eeeww exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo, Josh is able to tell me interesting facts about tarantulas, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and other interesting insects, because he has been exposed to them at school. Instead of being scared of these creepy crawly creatures, he has developed a respect and eagerness to learn more about them.

Conflict resolution

Kids will be kids. Three and four year olds are generally not so great at sharing. How children approach conflict is shaped from an early age and how their disputes are mediated will have a lasting effect. An experienced preschool teacher can help children recognize when they have a conflict and offer them the tools to reach a peaceful resolution.

Classroom preparedness

Being “prepared” for kindergarten involves more than just learning letters and numbers.  It includes listening skills, patience, following directions and showing respect for teachers and fellow students.

While I am doing a kindergarten check-up in the office, my job is to evaluate the social, emotional and cognitive aptitude of my patient. Most kids are ready to start, but at times I have had to recommend that a child wait a year before entering kindergarten. My patients who have attended preschool are generally better prepared to succeed from day one.

Parents often ask me if preschool is important. My answer is always an enthusiastic and emphatic “YES!” Ideally, kindergarten enrollees will have had at least one year of preschool so that they start kindergarten feeling comfortable in a classroom setting and ready to build on their “Seven C’s.” 

Dr. Dan Brennan is a board-certified pediatrician and Santa Barbara native who enjoys visiting Robbie the bearded dragon and the other cool critters at Evergreen with his wife and two boys. His column can be found in the Daily Sound on alternating Fridays. Please contact him at 563-6211 or visit www.SBPediatrics.com.

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Congrats to Josh and his buddies! : 6/26/2009

Evergreen is the best!

:)

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Pre School is vital! The Learningden in Santa Barbara uses the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood learning. : 10/8/2009

The Learningden Preschool in Santa Barbara is not an ordinary preschool. Within their tuition they have built in these fine important day-to-day activities that really set them apart. They do not charge extra for these extra activities and curriculum. It caters to parents who want to teach their preschooler about more than just their ABC's. Your Pre Schooler will learn Green education, Yoga, and Dance. The Learningden Preschool uses natural and environmentally friendly products, especially reusable’s, organic produce and snacks, Conservation application, Outdoor Classroom time, Organic Gardening and Composting. The children Recycle from their lunch and they have a compost bin which is new this year. Their creative play includes shadow play and light room, Intergenerational Learning, P.E, cooking class. Parents have a voice and have a friendly PTA. The Learningden Preschool serves as an extension of your child’s home. Their bright school is a place where children imagine, explore, create and learn with natural materials: clay, real art supplies, and items found in the home. Their curriculum is based on the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education where topics are driven by questions, information and excitement expressed by the children themselves. They teach and nurture the whole child. They dedicate themselves to a center where children flourish and have a strong sense of community, family and togetherness. Please make sure you go to their specialties page to find out more. http://learningden.wordpress.com/

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