It’s Not All Fun and Games

Kindergarten is a child's dive board into school. (Original Work by Pauleena Vu).

Hopscotch, coloring books, and jumbo crayons are just some of the many nostalgic memories from the days of kindergarten. Those were the simple days in which the only priority a child had was to listen to the teacher and have fun. However, the ease and simplicity of kindergarten has garnered a controversial question—is it necessary? It may seem useless to have to send a child to school only to play and go home. What parents must realize is that kindergarten is important for it lays a foundation of education and social skills for future scholars.

It is expected that each and every child attends school until they reach the twelfth grade. Kindergarten prepares young students for the years they have ahead of them. Children attending kindergarten are exposed to the basic lessons that they will eventually need in the near future. These basic learning materials include math, reading, writing, and much more. Therefore, not only will they be accustomed to going to school, they will also be prepared for the first grade.

School is the breeding place for friendships. With kindergarten, young children are given the opportunity to interact with other children their age. There they learn how to communicate with others and how to deal with simple social interactions. Learning how to speak to others and using proper manners at a young age will only benefit them because these lessons will follow them for the rest of their lives.

Some will say that kindergarten is a waste of time but when it comes to a child’s education, all the time and money should be invested for the sake of the child’s future. It is expected that enrollment into public kindergarten this fall will reach up to 3.7 million students (Institute of Education Sciences).