by: Jayde Lovell*
Every parent wants to give their child a head start in life. So how do you help your child get a kick-start to their development and put them ahead of the competition? The answer is simple: pre-primary education.
Research shows that taking your child to a playgroup is the very best way to help your child learn essential skills that they need to be successful in later life. However, the playgroup you choose doesn’t need to be the tough, boring, academic variety that provides in-depth reports about every moment of your child’s development! The benefits of simply playing with other children extend far beyond amusement; experts say it’s an integral part of early development.
Kirsten Hancock from the Perth Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has found that children who attended playgroups had better cognitive outcomes when they reached school.
“They were measured on things like vocabulary and readiness for school,” she said.
Children who attended playgroups also recorded improved social and emotional outcomes.
“Their ability to get on with other people, to relate to other people, to be comfortable, to take instruction, to not get distracted, all of those sorts of things, the things you’d relate to emotional intelligence which people are now saying is the primary thing in terms of education in the long term”.
Studies also show children who attend playgroups spend less time watching TV, and do more things outside the home such as going to swimming pools, museums, and cultural events. Even more importantly, they were found to have significantly more books in their home. Books mean children are learning to read at younger age, increasing their vocabulary and communication skill.
Research also shows that children who read more have a higher intelligence. Reading is great mind exercise for kids and a fun way to bond with your child in the home. Mentari offers a great range of books for pre-school, including the ‘My Book’ series. ‘My Book’ is aimed at children aged 3-5 years old, and teaches basic vocabulary terms with color pictures to aid learning. Visit a Mentari book store to see the full range of books for your child.
*Jayde Lovell is the co-author of the “My Book: English for Kindergarten” series, teacher training, and the Managing Director of Language Studies, Jakarta.
Editor: Michael R. Clarke
