The School's Role in Influencing Child Development

Quality of Program and Curriculum

• At every stage of development, the quality of education your child receives at school plays a significant role in his progress and achievement. Investigate different programs, whether preschool or elementary, to familiarize yourself with the curriculum. Look into every school's ratings to determine student performance and parent satisfaction. A high-quality educational program will include positive reinforcement and discipline, proactive teacher involvement, an inviting environment that is clean and well organized and lower student-to-teacher ratios. Your child's participation in a school environment is a vital component to his academic career, so choosing a quality program is essential.

Socialization

• When your child begins school, or even if your child is very young and attends daycare, participating in a learning environment teaches skills to become a functional member of a community. Being a part of a group encourages social interactions, helping children learn appropriate behavior. Your child will make his first friends when starting school. As he develops his own interest and preferences, your child will form social bonds with different children and teachers. Children are also exposed to a multitude of cultural and ethnic diversities when they attend school.

Emotional Development

• The school environment is an influential aspect of your child's emotional development. Research conducted through the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child postulates that early emotional experiences become embedded in the structure of the child's brain, shaping his developmental path through feeling-based reactions. Participation in a high-quality educational program will assist your child in how to identify and understand his own emotions, how to read and comprehend emotions of others, manage his strong emotions and how to express feelings in a constructive manner. Children also learn appropriate use of language for various social situations that involve emotional responses.

Long-Term Effects

• According to Kathy Sylva, PhD and professor of educational psychology, children who participate in early-learning school environments gain beneficial experience that shapes their attitude for learning. Her studies reflect that children who attend preschool and other early-learning programs that offer well-rounded, high-quality curriculum more readily develop skills for school commitment, motivation for learning and academic achievement and aspiration for further education and employment. Your child's participation in a structured school environment that provides a dynamic and favorable curriculum will positively influence his mindset regarding education throughout his entire academic career.