NOVI, Mich., April 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Will your child be ready for kindergarten? How do you know?
Parents' expectations of preschool today go way beyond childcare. To help understand what families prioritize in selecting early education and care for their children, Learning Care Group turned to Harris Poll for a nationwide survey of parents. The study included 1,004 parents of children up to 8 years old.
Based on the findings, parents feel it's as essential for their children to learn social and emotional skills in preschool as it is for them to develop traditional academic skills such as reading, writing and math. According to the study, preschool is seen as vital in teaching kids to learn how to learn – and thinking critically, getting along with others, understanding routines and expectations are a big part of it.
Parents indicated they felt it's important that their child learn to be respectful of others (84%), learn to work independently (79%) and learn how to manage emotions (77%), along with other behaviors that are socially helpful in elementary school and beyond. For parents of 0-4 year olds, it was important for their child to enjoy reading experiences (81%) and to have a preschool environment where their child can learn in a way that's right for him or her (75%), as well as a daily emphasis on pre-literacy (75%) and pre-math (70%).
The results showed parents clearly see the benefits of early childhood education, and believe it sets a good base for future learning and development. Nearly two-thirds (62%) strongly or fully agreed that the advantages of early childhood education last a lifetime.
Balancing Developmental Goals with Individual Needs
Findings from the study, conducted in late 2013, support the philosophy at work within Learning Care Group to help children build the skills they need to thrive, beginning in infancy. The company's team of education specialists has created a School Readiness Pathway for all of its Childtime, Children's Courtyard, La Petite Academy, Tutor Time, and Montessori Unlimited schools.
Working in conjunction with the distinctive program and proprietary curriculum developed for each of its brands, Learning Care Group's School Readiness Pathway provides a consistent, research-based framework that focuses on key developmental milestones. The company's teachers continually assess each child's progress in meeting objectives established for every stage of the Pathway and shape lessons accordingly.
"Our programs are designed to help every child learn the academic and social skills needed for a smooth transition to elementary school," said Dr. Susan Canizares, Chief Academic Officer at Learning Care Group. "While working to ensure all our children meet the developmental goals we've mapped out in our School Readiness Pathway, we provide unique experiences tailored around every child's individual needs."
The Pathway provides a consistent academic, data-based framework that defines what the children in Learning Care Group's schools will be learning at each stage of their development. However, how they learn is brought to life differently for every school brand.
"The Childtime experience is distinctly different from the Tutor Time experience, for example, from how lessons are taught down to the look and feel of the school," explained Canizares. "We offer parents the opportunity to select the school environment that's the best fit for their family's needs – and to be confident that we will prepare their children not just for kindergarten, but also for strong growth and learning throughout the school years that will impact lifelong success."
To find out more about Learning Care Group's schools, visit:
www.childtime.com
www.tutortime.com
www.lapetite.com
www.montessori.com
www.childrenscourtyard.com
Families are invited to check out what's in store for summer by coming to a Summer Open House on April 10 from 5-7 p.m. at all Childtime, Tutor Time, Children's Courtyard and La Petite Academy schools.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Poll on behalf of Learning Care Group among 1,004 parents, ages 18 and over and with children up to 8 years old, on Nov. 6-18, 2013. Responses were anonymous and no identifying information about respondents was requested or collected. Percentages for some questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to certain questions. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About Learning Care Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Novi, Mich., Learning Care Group provides early education and child care services to children ages 6 weeks to 13 years within its portfolio of brands: The Children's Courtyard, Childtime Learning Centers, La Petite Academy, Montessori Unlimited and Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Centers. Learning Care Group operates more than 900 schools (corporate and franchise) across 36 states, the District of Columbia and internationally, and has a system-wide capacity to serve more than 100,000 children. Learning Care Group and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and providers. For more information, please visit www.learningcaregroup.com
About Nielsen & The Harris Poll
On February 3, 2014, Nielsen acquired Harris Interactive and The Harris Poll. Nielsen Holdings N.V. is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence and mobile measurement. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA and Diemen, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.
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