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As it becomes more and more obvious that the traditional American education system is failing, the question becomes, what practices are leading to its failure? While teacher's unions, overcrowding, and a constant dumbing down of the curriculum are at least partly to blame, it is detrimental to ignore the fact that, in America, children start their education much later than they should. If you are one who believes in the value of science, observation, and common sense, you will surely find study after study and expert after expert that state the period in which children learn the most is from birth to 3 years of age. If you want to take advantage of this formative time period and give your child the best foundation possible, finding a great, academically geared preschool in Altadena is the most important thing you can do. Identifying an Academic Preschool Without a doubt, the first question you're probably going to ask is how you find an academically rigorous preschool. After all, children at this tender age aren't exactly going to be doing worksheets or reading the classics. What you should look for is a preschool that spends its time giving them the basics they need in order to start building their educational foundation. While traditional preschools would have you believe that playing with Barbie dolls, trucks, Sesame Street, and finger painting are a part of that foundation, they are either lying or don't know anything about childhood development. In order for a school to help a child truly develop, the school must understand what the child is developing into. The Youngest of Adults While it seems that most preschools view the toddler as developing into the preschooler, and the preschooler into the kindergartner, they couldn't be more wrong. Children are not developing into children they are developing into adults. Children are not stupid nor are they blind. They are acutely aware of the activities you, and other adults in their lives, perform. They have never seen you color, they have never seen you play with a Barbie doll, and they have never seen you finger paint. What they have seen you do is sort laundry, cook dinner, and clean house. Children understand that those things are what they are destined to do. They know those are adult activities in which they will one day participate and for which they must gain skills. This is why they are happy to leave their toys on the floor and follow you around until you just can't take it anymore! School and the Real World A good preschool understands that children need and want to participate in activities that mimic those they see their parents engaging in. Preschools of this caliber offer activities like ironing, dish washing, dressing frames, and a whole host of real-world activities that will help them develop concentration, independence, order, and control--all of which are paramount for academic success and personal satisfaction. Common Sense Building Blocks Besides offering children a chance to gain and practice grown-up skills, academically focused preschools will also introduce children to math and language concepts early on and in a way that is appropriate for them. Have you ever wondered why children are taught the alphabet by the letter names? When was the last time you used a word and pronounced the letter names instead of their sounds? Might an inefficient, nonsensical method of teaching the alphabet be responsible for the country's reading deficiency? Did you know most adults can only read on a 5th grade level? Finding a preschool in Altadena that teaches children the sounds of the letters in the order of common usage is a great indicator that the preschool understands what children need and what they are developing into!
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