Universal Pre-School, Yes But...!

If universal Pre-School means child development, e.g. childcare opportunities for all children regardless of social or economic status, then, we all should rise and applaud vigorously.

However, an important caveat is worth mentioning: All child development programs must be organized to insure the availability of flexible developmetal appropriate services. For example, hours and days of the week attendance, and generic or targeted program activities must be readily available, and goals must be easily understood.

The worth of any child care services is whether it provides optimal services to individual children. Optimal services supports physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth without child stress or anxiety. Parent work related goals, professinal bias, experimental trends and community priorties are secondary to the needs of individual children.

While child care in or out the home can offer significant child development benefits, the home should always be considered the primary anchor for supporting the child's health and well being.
Parents are not only a child's first teacher, but they are in a unique position to more fully understand and appreciated their child's uniques. From day one, parents must accept, vigorisly defend and maintain a lead role in nuturing their child.

Bert J. Wainwright