January 15, 2007 – Children who attended preschool or daycare would be better prepared when they start school than those who stayed at home.
The researchers used data from a longitudinal study of 7,748 American babies. According to the results1, children who received preschool education the year before entering school acquired skills that enabled them to do better in the classroom.
However, the other children managed to catch up with them in the first year, if they progressed in a favorable school environment. Classes then had to be made up of fewer than 20 students and the time spent teaching reading was to be 61 to 90 minutes per day.
In a school environment where the conditions listed above were not met, the benefits of having received a preschool education could be felt until the third grade. “Maybe even later,” says research team member Katherine Magnuson, professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin.
“The good news,” she says, “is that children who have not been fortunate enough to benefit from a preschool program may have the opportunity to optimize their skills and knowledge if they have access to quality primary education and learning conditions conducive to academic success. “
Should we therefore demand smaller classes and longer teaching time in schools? “This kind of decision depends on several factors such as the availability and quality of the teaching staff. What clearly emerges from our study, on the other hand, is the importance of ensuring the quality of the school environment that will follow preschool and kindergarten, ”explains the researcher.
Katherine Magnuson believes that preschool programs can really benefit children at risk of developing learning disabilities, such as children living in disadvantaged communities.
Marie france Coutu – PasseportSanté.net
According to The Gazette.
1. Magnuson K, Ruhm C, Waldfogel J. The persistence of preschool effects: Do subsequent classroom experiences matter ?, Early Childhood Research Quarterly (2006), doi: 10.10116 / j.ecresq.2006.10.002. The study is available at the following address: www.sciencedirect.com [consulté le 15 janvier 2007].