Studying the first grade curriculum in advance: The benefits outweigh the disadvantages

A corner for children to read books in a kindergarten in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: MD

The "yes" side thinks "the first grade curriculum is heavy and the classes are crowded, I'll take care of my child". The "no" side believes in the kindergarten curriculum and the kindergarten's guidance on preparing 5-year-old children for first grade.

So, on the "yes" side, after a day of studying at kindergarten, children are taken by their parents to a writing class that lasts until 7-8 pm. There, children have to sit for hours practicing writing and doing math. This is really not suitable for the psychology of their age and causes "shocks" that children may have to suffer later such as fear of going to school, loss of concentration...

According to the unified document No. 01 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on the Preschool Education Program, the goal of preschool education is to help children develop physically, emotionally, intellectually, aesthetically, form the first elements of personality, and prepare children for grade 1...

Preschool education content must ensure scientificity, suitability, and the principle of concentric development from easy to difficult; ensure connectivity between ages, between nursery, kindergarten, and primary school; unify educational content with real life, linked to children's lives and experiences, and prepare children to gradually integrate into life.

Therefore, the educational environment in preschool and primary school are completely different. In preschool, children's main activity is playing.

In primary school, the main activity is studying. Kindergarten children have the mentality of preschool children, they cannot "immediately" enter the first grade curriculum but need to be carefully prepared in all aspects to avoid causing "shock" to them.

According to the program, kindergartens are preparing children for first grade with the harmonious coordination of four parties: school, teachers, parents and children.

With writing and math, from kindergarten to nursery school, the preschool program has provided a bridge for children entering kindergarten to achieve the expected results to enter first grade.

5-year-old preschool children will learn to read, write, do math, and practice these knowledge and skills throughout the year of kindergarten according to the psychology and physiology of their age to prepare for entering grade 1.

What is more important and must also be done in a process is: preparing the necessary premises, creating opportunities to help children be ready for school in all aspects (physical, intellectual, emotional, communication and social behavior, mentality...) so that children can adapt to learning activities and life in the primary school environment.

With the educational methods and goals of preschool, children in kindergarten can completely enter grade 1 without having to study the grade 1 curriculum in advance.

Don't put pressure on children because of the competition for skills and achievements in the first year of primary school, which can affect their psychology and long-term development.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-truoc-chuong-trinh-lop-1-loi-bat-cap-hai-20240422082308444.htm