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Overlooked Benefits of Prekindergarten (PDF)
By Karen Schulman
Policy Reports, 6; March 2005

Summary: This report discusses the benefits of several early childhood interventions (i.e., the High/Scope Perry Preschool Program, Abecedarian Project, Chicago Child-Parent Centers, and Parent Child Development Centers). Findings demonstrate that children who participate in a quality early childhood education experience benefit in ways that go beyond the positive outcomes commonly emphasized. These studies suggest that prekindergarten has the following benefits: (1) strengthens commitment to and attitude toward school, (2) leads participants to take better care of their health throughout their lives, (3) starts children on the path to financial stability and independence, (4) increases the likelihood that mothers of participating children get good jobs; (5) enhances the parenting skills of participants’ parents, and (6) produces positive effects that extend into future generations. A good early education experience can teach children not only academic knowledge and skills, but it can shape their attitudes, dispositions, and habits regarding learning and influence their social and emotional development.

Index Terms: Prekindergarten, Quality Initiatives, Studies, Early Childhood Intervention, Preschool Education, Abecedarian Project, Chicago Child Parent Centers, High Scope Perry Preschool Project

Publisher: National Institute for Early Education Research

Publication Type: Reports (Descriptive)

Pages: 10 pages
Language: English
URL: http://nieer.org/resources/policyreports/report6.pdf

Availability
National Institute for Early Education Research
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
120 Albany Street, Suite 500
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
732-932-4350
FAX: 732-932-4360
http://nieer.org/

 
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