I keep asking myself when the right time for children to
start schooling is. When I say schooling I mean foundation learning from counting
1-20, reciting the alphabets flawlessly, knowing and identifying colours and
lots more. Put simply, Formal Education.
Many parents feel early enrollment in school is a good first
step for a child’s’ academic career. But some experts warn that too much, too
soon may not necessarily be the way to lay the ground work of a successful
academic career.
According to a study published in The Cambridge Primary Review in October
2008, the consensus was that formal schooling should be delayed until children
reach 6. The findings offered that trying to teach literacy and math at a young
age is counterproductive. If children under 6 are in school programs, they
should continue to learn through play-based initiatives. This is where the
advantages of daycares/playgroups come in.
Starting a child in school early isn't necessarily a good start. Some may
show the readiness to attend school, but they may not have the maturity to absorb
concepts outside of their play-based way of learning. Forcing information on a
child who is not ready could cause harm to him or her. After all, the fact that
a child has an early start in schooling doesn’t guarantee he or she would be a
more educated child compared to him or her who starts much later.
It is true that some children are naturally more advanced than others and
may benefit from early, more structured schooling. However, the vast majority
will do fine during their academic career if they begin formal education at an
appropriate age.
Parents who have little choice but to enroll children in daycare/pre-school
programs because they work or for other reasons should ensure that there is
emphasis on:
play-based learning
opportunities to go outside
interaction with story books
less focus on grades and performances
most especially activities that involve the family so mum and dad are participating in their child’s learning
interaction with story books
less focus on grades and performances
most especially activities that involve the family so mum and dad are participating in their child’s learning
From my point of view, children should start Formal Education as from the
age of 5yrs, by then they would have attained better social (communication and
interaction) skills. Parents importantly need to partake in educating their
children and be great role models by setting good examples and not leave it all
to the teachers in schools, remember kids are very impressionable.
We need to let kids be kids; lets not make them grow faster than they really
should.
'What is the reason behind putting the kids so early in school'? My parent made me start formal education at a very very early age because they found out that I was learning way faster than my age so to an extent, one could say they were justified for doing that...But some parents practically force their children to start at these early ages saying that they want them to be brilliant...to learn faster...or for whatever reason, which is what I have a problem with...Children should be allowed to learn at their own pace. God didn't make everyone to be as bright in school work as others...some of these kids are actually better off in something else but their parents don't give them the opportunity to learn the craft they are good in. For example a child that is good in building bricks or drawing at an early age might actually have the potential of being an Architect or an Artist but because the child was forced to start the really serious "book work", no one is able to see their real potential and might then start forcing them to go be an Accountant or Lawyer or whatever.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real problem because some parents would be wondering why their child is still showing childish behaviors forgetting that they didn't give the kid enough time to just BE A KID!
So yea the question you pose is right because parents don't give kids enough time to discover their potential and also rush them to become adults when they aren't ready.
Hope this makes sense??