Children from low-income families who are exposed to well-structured, attentive and stimulating preschool between the ages of 2 and 4 years are less likely to develop behavioural problems during their preteen years.
Researchers followed 350 children from low-income families in Boston, Chicago and San Antonio. All 350 children in the study were part of a long-running study exploring the impact of the national welfare programme on low-income families.
It was found that the children who attended responsive and engaging high-quality preschool programmes were found to exhibit less aggression and rule-breaking behaviour by the time they entered middle childhood (ages 7 to 11). African-American children and boys in general appeared to derive a particularly noticeable benefit from exposure to a strongly structured child-care situation outside the confines of their home.
Good kindergarten or pre-schools have been shown to be associated with greater growth of reading and math skills in children.
Researchers followed 350 children from low-income families in Boston, Chicago and San Antonio. All 350 children in the study were part of a long-running study exploring the impact of the national welfare programme on low-income families.
It was found that the children who attended responsive and engaging high-quality preschool programmes were found to exhibit less aggression and rule-breaking behaviour by the time they entered middle childhood (ages 7 to 11). African-American children and boys in general appeared to derive a particularly noticeable benefit from exposure to a strongly structured child-care situation outside the confines of their home.
Good kindergarten or pre-schools have been shown to be associated with greater growth of reading and math skills in children.