A new study finds that parents are deeply concerned about their children’s academic and character development before they turn five.
The survey of 2,000 parents of children ages five and younger, commissioned by Primrose Schools and conducted by OnePoll, shows 59% are concerned about their children’s academic and character development. Concerns about whether their children will learn to play fairly and cooperate with others dominate. Communicating well with others and being able to express themselves appropriately also rank high.
Parents listed several challenges they face in supporting their children’s development, including creating a routine, teaching positive behaviors, planning activities, providing a consistent environment, and building early literacy and math skills.
Fostering Growth
Most parents understand the importance of the first five years of life and how those years affect a child’s development and future success. However, the specifics are a little grayer.
Some parents believe their children should be able to interact with peers, learn language skills, and learn social skills by age two. By age three, most parents think their children should be able to start benefitting from formal learning activities and grasp academic concepts.
“My child is under 5, and I previously worked as an elementary school teacher,” shares Abby Price. “I’m very passionate about early childhood development. I work with her on building her education by reading books, giving her real-world experiences, using fun, hands-on games, teaching her new words and behaviors by imitating what I do, and minimizing screen time.”
“In the first five years of a child’s life, parents have an opportunity to maximize the power and potential of this critical time,” explains Dr. Amy Jackson, Chief Early Learning Strategy Officer at Primrose Schools. “It’s clear that parents want their children to learn these important academic and character development skills while their brains are most receptive to learning, but we know many worry about finding the right approach.”
These first few years can be crucial to a child’s upbringing, and parents can play a huge role in that process. But more than half of the parents surveyed say concerns about their children’s development keep them up at night.
The Importance of Support
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and for a child’s upbringing, that village might be exactly what they need to grow into healthy and kind adults.
Parents who face adversity can often benefit from outside sources to help them pick up the pieces when life hits. Most agree that parenting isn’t always easy and that support systems are important for raising the best child possible.
82% consider preschools to be part of their support systems, alongside immediate family, extended family, and close family friends.
Schools can be really important for younger children. Preschools, while often optional, can provide a solid base for children’s learning skills before they enter kindergarten and elementary school.
“Oftentimes, when children attend high-quality and effective Pre-K programs, they get a really great boost in early skills that set them up for success in elementary school,” says NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Michael Little, Ph.D. in an “Ask the Expert” interview with the university. Little studies the different policies and programs trying to improve students, educational outcomes, and the connections between preschool and early elementary grades.
Parents say they look for a preschool that offers a safe place where their child can feel like they belong, and qualified teachers invest in their child’s development and kindergarten readiness.
“Support systems are important for new parents, especially during their child’s first five years of life,” explains Dr. Jackson. “The experiences and connections children have in these early years will shape their academic, physical and social-emotional development — ultimately forming their foundation for learning and who they become.”
When parents can’t get help from their support system, 73% will, at least occasionally, consult the Internet for parenting advice instead. However, 43% said they feel “overwhelmed” by what they find online.
When it comes to parenting, it’s important to know your child and what is normal for them. If children are missing important milestones, it might be worth speaking to their doctor about why they’re missing these markers and if there’s a way to bolster their support system even more.
