NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Beginning Formal Schooling

Most of us would love for our children to have the best education, but sometimes it's not only the type of school that we enroll our children in that may determine their progress and quality of education, but also when they begin formal schooling or the process of education.

Since the countries we reside in ultimately determines at what age our children begin their formal education, it is noteworthy to examine what impact starting the average and normal child at school at particular ages causes.

In Nigeria and some western European countries, children start school, albeit Kindergarten at much younger ages than in the U.S. for instance. What differences are noticeable? Should a child start school (formal education) as from the age of two as in Nigeria for example, or should they have to wait until they are five years old as in the United States?

Obviously it is best to have your children potty-trained before sending them off to non-daycare environments, but different societies and families also potty-train their children at different ages. Besides, a child who is still in diapers or hopefully and preferably training pants can learn at any age, once their cognitive skills are developing.

Also, some parents already begin educating their children from the time they begin sitting, although some exceptions include those who start making attempts beyond normal communication, even from when their babies are still fetuses in their wombs. Most parents though begin informal or formal education from when the child starts mimicking their words.

A child does not have to be in a formal learning environment (i.e. school) in order to gain a formal education. Structure and development of social skills are the best benefits of these, but some of us are already aware that some parents home-school their children, even right up until when they get prepared to gain college entrance.

For someone non-resident in the U.S. they may wonder why a child has to wait until the age of five to begin kindergarten, spending the first years of their lives at day-care centers; whereas a U.S. citizen may feel it's too early to start a child at kindergarten at the age of two.

Also, are these really the parents' wishes or are their choices being dictated by the societies they live in? While it is the rule in the U.S., it is worthy to note that it may not necessarily be the rule in other countries. For instance in Nigeria, nobody forces you to enroll your children in school by the age of two.

Regardless of where a child is formally educated, does starting school early or later make any significant difference in the child's education and scholastic achievements? Are children who start school earlier any smarter than their peers who began the journey later, assuming they are exposed to the same quality of education?

Cxsm
20th April '06

© Cxsm 2006 All Rights Reserved

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and contribute to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

RE: [AfriKWomanToWoman] Beginning Formal Schooling

Hello to you all....

What about the child who is home schooled throughout the entire formal school process? I say schooling (formal or informal) starts from the home/parents/guardians. Open children's mind very early in the home and continue to do so beyond the classroom and you well have a child that will see education as a birthright not a societal chore/requirement. We never stop learning except we choose to. But at the end of the point, it is never too early to begin formal education.

Peace & love
MBuraimoh
5/5/06

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Re: [naija-women] Beginning Formal Schooling

In Haija, children start formal education at age 4???? What a joke!!!!!!!

Ogunsu
5/4/06