We tend to think preschoolers are too young for a comprehensive education. Sure, they know their colors, letters and numbers, but by their very definition, a preschooler is just too young to handle a 'big school' education. However, studies now show that they are far more capable of understanding advanced math concepts than we give them credit for.
New research indicates that even babies are able to tell the difference between quantities of 8 and 16 thanks to an innate mathematical ability that enables us to differentiate size without having the ability to count. That means that parents who wait to teach their children math skills are missing out on valuable education opportunities.
A revealing 2007 study showed that a child’s kindergarten math skills predicted their third grade reading scores. While the link needs further investigation, it shows that instilling math skills at an early age gives a child an incredible advantage in both reading and math abilities. Those whose math skills are not up to par at an early age never really seem to catch up.
That’s not to say that children under the age of seven need to trade in finger painting for algebra. but that math and reading can be incorporated into lessons and games to give preschoolers an advantage as they move into the first grade.
Learning through play is a very effective method for helping preschoolers to advance and the most popular program, according to the US Department of Education, is called Building Blocks. Building Blocks is a system that incorporates math and geometry into games throughout preschool. In Boston, students from Building Block preschools scored an average of 10 percent higher on third-grade reading scores.
Discoveries like these highlight the inadequacy of the education system, even in higher income areas. Parents who are aware of the competitive nature of the job market are striving to give their children the advantages they require in order to succeed, including comprehensive, in-home tutoring. For some, a private, in-home tutor is a better investment than sending their children to expensive private schools. This is because children get customized curriculums and one-to-one attention and private tutors are able to teach essential executive skills that make students excellent learners for life. That‘s why the home tutoring business is growing exponentially and savvy investors are turning to profitable education franchises as a viable investment.