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FriMar 8

National Preschooler's Day – March 8, 2024

National Preschooler’s Day takes place on the second Friday in March annually. This year, it takes place on March 8. Preschool is the first stage of education for children between the ages of three and five. There are different approaches to preschool, and these have been debated as people argue about the best teaching methods for children in their developmental years. Some preschools take place for half a day, while some go on for an entire day. Some people believe preschool should be in a more formal classroom setting, while others agree that it should be more informal, where preschool students can discover, play, and imagine.

It precedes National School Teachers’ Appreciation Day by a week and celebrates all preschool-attending kids around the U.S. The role of preschool teachers is very significant as they play an essential part in the child’s most formative, perceptive, and critical phase of life. This is when children start to have cognitive ideas and comprehension of the world around them. This day is to celebrate our little bundles of joy in their formative years.

History of National Preschooler's Day

In Europe, preschools began around the late 18th and early 19th centuries. There is no specific origin for National Preschooler’s Day for Americans, but it may be dated back to 1965 by President Johnson. During that year, Head Start was the first publicly funded preschool in the United States. It was created to help and aid children with insufficient funds to enroll in school. During that time, only one in ten children of preschool age was in actual preschools. Only 15 years later, in the 1980s, states started subsidizing preschools for low-income families. Because the government provided initiatives like higher maternal employment rates and anti-poverty enterprises, citizens gave more priority to their children when it came to preschool. There was also a surge of research about the profound change and significance of brain development in small children. Thus, it was only in 2005 that more than half of kids aged three to five were enrolled in preschool. In most states, there are currently multiple preschools or Pre-K options for young kids.

It’s a known fact that with preschools constructed for children, an accompanying preschool teacher always guides and supports every growing child. It’s also not the easiest role because every child is different and has different learning needs and abilities. Some may be more inclined to intelligence quotient, while others may do better in the emotional realm. National Preschooler’s Day is not only to celebrate preschool students but preschool teachers as well.

National Preschooler's Day timeline

1965
The First Preschool in America

Head Start is the first publicly funded preschool in the U.S.

1980s
Funded Schooling

States commence subsidizing preschools for low-income families.

2003
The Continuation of Learning

On March 11, National Preschooler’s Day is observed.

2005
The Majority of Kids Go to School

Almost 70% of four-year-old children are enrolled in preschool.

National Preschooler's Day FAQs

What is the oldest age for preschool?

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines the preschool age range as between three and five years old. However, there is no specific rule. The average starting age for children to enroll is between three and four.

Who invented preschool?

In 1779, Johann Friedrich Oberlin and Louise Scheppler founded an early establishment for educating preschool children when parents were absent during the day.

What is the most important thing for preschoolers to know?

Preschoolers must at least learn “pre-skills,” which lay the foundation for the future. Through many teaching methods, preschoolers attain skills that help them learn to read, write, and understand arithmetic.

National Preschooler's Day Activities

  1. Enroll your kid

    If you have children aged three to five, this is the time for you to seek possible preschools to enroll them in. Ask your local neighborhood about the schools offering preschool students' curricula.

  2. Do more research

    Whether you have a child or not, it is always good to know more about the formative years of children ages three to five. You may learn a thing or two about prioritizing when you have your future kids.

  3. Show some love to your own preschool teachers

    Even if you don’t see your preschool teacher anymore, it’s always nostalgic to think about everything they’ve helped you achieve when you were younger. Give them a call or send a heartfelt note to tell them how much you appreciate them.

5 Interesting Facts To Know About Preschoolers

  1. Handedness is established

    By the age of three, a child will have the preference for using either their left or right hand.

  2. They can learn to dress

    They can dress or undress themselves at their age, but they may still need assistance.

  3. 20/20 vision

    Children have visions nearing perfection or at the rate of 20/20.

  4. They have a broader vocabulary

    They should be able to say about 500 to 900 words.

  5. They can eat on their own

    They should be able to use spoons well and feed themselves.

Why We Love National Preschooler's Day

  1. It promotes learning

    This holiday is all about improving and learning. The ages of three to five are the most formative years, and with this holiday, we can acknowledge the significance of advocating and supporting children of this age.

  2. We love children

    Children are amazing and amusing because they have so much curiosity and innocence. They never stop asking questions and even adults learn more through them; it may be why we always tell people to be child-like.

  3. We get to say thank you

    We get to show our appreciation to school teachers who have sacrificed their lives to uphold and support children. It’s a tough job and yet they've been doing great. That's why we get to tell them or show them our gratitude.

National Preschooler's Day dates

YearDateDay
2022March 11Friday
2023March 10Friday
2024March 8Friday
2025March 14Friday
2026March 13Friday

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