Agenda - 09-02-1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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J tj a Similarly certified day care makes a substantial contribution to our; community. One of the immediate benefits of day care is the provision of child care for parents who work. For women and men, particularly those in single parent families, who must work outside the home,. day care is an essential service which enables them to main- tain their jobs. Ot' er families in need of skill, development are enabled to pursue training and education which will improve their employability in the future.' Day Care provides an opportunity for adults with children to .gain self-respect by al.l,ouling them to sup-- . port their families and to further their own educational and occupa- tional needs. However vital this function is, day care must not be viewed as simply a service to parents. The major beneficiaries are the children involved in these programs and the whole community in which they will eventually become active members. By exposing children to an edu- cational environment at an 'early age, the probability of their future: success in school is increased. Day care offers the early detection, and treatment of physical, emotional, and developmental problems prior to entering the public schools., By providing an environment wher-a children can feel good about themselves as people and competent in various skills, day care offers children an opnor.t:unity to develop a positive self--image. The child enrolled in a day care program where classes are small and individual attention is possible develops her/ his individuality and independence, and simultaneously, his/her first school experience is a positive one_ In addition, chi.?dxen are af- forded the opportunity to acquire the social skills wbS ch allow them t:r develop intense and warm_relationships with people of different: anti/or: similar cultural and economic backgrounds. Implied in the above are ways in which day care benefits the community as a whole. First, early education and socialization, as well as detection and treatment of problems reduces future exten- sive expenditures in time, money and manpower in the area of special/ remedial education. For example, the three year old child who has a hearing loss and is enrolled in a certified pr:ogrant where: audiology screening is available, can be identified, treated, and trained so t-be effects of this problem are minimized, Tf this loss were left unde- tected, the child could develop behavioral problems as a response to her/his physical disability, and eventually require social, psy- chological, physical, and special education services where early detection would have required only physical intervention. There: is increasing evidence that the crucial learning years are prior to first grade. Early education within the framework of the auali.ty preschool environment in this time period increases the likelihood that children without special problems will not develop them. For example, a child from a preschool program where developmental edu- cation is emphasized should acquire the socialization skills and educational foundation which allow him/her to develop to her/his full, potential. s 1