The next time somebody tells me that a preschool teacher is not a real teacher, here's what I will tell them:
I learned a lot in preschool. Everything I learned, I have used since that day. I am 28 going on 29. I still consider preschool to be the most important type of schooling and preschool teachers have the most important job of teaching these first lessons.
1. LISTENING - Preschoolers are taught to listen to directions and not talk while others are talking. Interrupting is not a good idea. If you don't listen, you may miss something funny, exciting, and cool! Listening can save your life.
2. MANNERS - Young toddlers learn to talk. Chatterbox preschoolers learn to call their elders "M'am" and "Sir." They learn to respect people of all ages. They learn how to sit properly at a table and to keep their hands to themselves. They learn the difference between right and wrong and lies and truth.
3. HYGIENE - Preschoolers wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom. They love to take bubble baths. Washing themselves becomes fun and not a mundane chore especially when Barbie or Gi-Joe takes a bath/swim in the big tub.
4. SAFETY - Look before you cross. Don't talk to strangers. No running on slippery floors/concrete. Always wear sunscreen outside on a hot day. Call 911 in an emergency!
5. HEALTH - The water fountain is the elixir of life after a hard romp outside. School lunch is a healthy meal with a healthy snack. Carrots are fun to chomp and celery is fun to crunch. Exercising is fun especially in the summer!
6. IMAGINATION - More and more schools are substituting tests in place of our kids using their own creativity and thinking for themselves. There are no standardized tests for preschoolers, thank God. These children draw, paint, sculpt, sing, and dance, all while learning to express themselves. They learn the wonder of the alphabet, the magic of numbers, and the delight of colors at their own pace. They are not confined to coloring inside the lines. They learn through doing, not glued to an iWhatever to teach them. They read each other stories and make up stories on the playground (good kind not bad kind) Songs they learn now, they will remember for a long time. As a preschool music teacher, many of the songs I teach, I learned at their age! They are allowed to be themselves without worrying about being somebody else.
7. FRIENDS - You make your first friends in preschool. Slumber parties, birthday parties, after-school play dates, class parties, swim parties, etc. The list goes on and on. You learn about each other and how to treat others as they would like to be treated. You learn not to judge others by what they look like. You also learn to ignore and not give attention to friends that might be on the unpleasant side.
8. CHOICES - You learn that life is what you make it and that your actions have consequences. You always have a choice as to your action and the following response.
9. LOVE - You learn to love. You love Mommy and Daddy or other guardians most of all and family is very important. You love your teachers, giving them a hug or a high-five because they are awesome. You learn there is a time for everything in preschool.
That's my two cents and certainly not all that they learn day to day. Feel free to post some more!
Be blessed
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