Parents of young children often wonder whether they should stay at home for as long as possible or enroll in a quality child care program. There are several significant advantages of encouraging your child to join a program where they can be with other children. Below, the team at Northwest Children's Center of Cromwell, CT, shares a few of these advantages.

How Child Care Programs Benefit Children

1. Develops Social Skills

Even the youngest children can benefit from interacting with new people. Child care programs help children adjust to new environments and social situations between peers and trusted adults. As your child spends time with other children, they can develop crucial interpersonal skills like friendship, teamwork, and cooperation. Learning how to feel comfortable around adults other than a parent or family member helps children become more independent, outgoing, and confident in all their interactions.

2. Builds Character

In addition to teaching academic lessons like letter and number recognition, preschool programs also introduce children to valuable life skills. As they learn to work and play with friends, they begin to understand the importance of teamwork and compromise. If a conflict arises, they may also learn that actions have consequences. By practicing skills like saying please and thank you, taking turns, and apologizing, children learn compassion, sharing, kindness, and patience.

3. Prepares Them for Grade School

Early education is an important part of child development, as it gets them ready for future learning opportunities. Not only are children in child care exposed to information that helps them understand the world, but they also learn how to behave in a classroom setting. A quality child care center will employ degreed teachers who make preschool stimulating and engaging, so children are excited about starting kindergarten and grade school.

If you’re looking for a quality child care center in the Cromwell area, Northwest Children's Center has your child’s best interest at heart. They work hard to teach children about healthy relationships and personal growth, so they’re ready for school. They have numerous programs for infants, toddlers, and early learners, fulfilling many families’ educational needs. Contact them today at (860) 635-3485 or visit their website to learn more.