Why Early Childhood Education Matters for School Success

How is Success in School Impacted by Early Childhood Education

Dr. Verna Benjamin Lambert

Preschool usually starts around age 3, though some programs take children as young as 2 and a half, and most children attend for one to two years before kindergarten. Early childhood education as a whole covers a much longer span, from birth through about age 8, or roughly 2nd grade.

(If you landed here looking for how long a teaching degree takes, this page is about children's schooling instead.) Below we'll walk through the typical ages, how Georgia's Pre-K Program fits in and what a full timeline looks like from infancy to the early grades.

Yes, a good early childhood education can help children do better in school, and some studies have followed those benefits all the way into adulthood. The biggest gains tend to show up in social skills, language and a child's attitude toward learning, and they depend heavily on the quality of the program.

That last part matters. "Preschool" covers everything from a well run classroom with trained teachers to a room where kids mostly wait for pickup. Below we'll walk through what the research shows, what the benefits look like later in school and what to look for if you want those benefits for your own child.

What are the benefits of early childhood education?

Early childhood education generally refers to the years from birth to about age 8. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the major professional group in the field, describes its mission as promoting high quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8.

That means early childhood education isn't just preschool. It includes:

Infant and toddler care (birth to about 3)
Preschool and pre-K (about 3 to 5)
Kindergarten through 2nd grade (about 5 to 8)

Each stage builds on the one before it. The language a baby hears, the routines a toddler learns and the friendships a preschooler forms all feed into how a child handles kindergarten and the early grades.

That means early childhood education isn't just preschool. It includes:

Infant and toddler care (birth to about 3)
Preschool and pre-K (about 3 to 5)
Kindergarten through 2nd grade (about 5 to 8)

Each stage builds on the one before it. The language a baby hears, the routines a toddler learns and the friendships a preschooler forms all feed into how a child handles kindergarten and the early grades.

Brain development: The early years are when the brain builds connections fastest, and the quality of a child's interactions with adults shapes that growth.
Social and emotional skills: Children practice sharing, waiting, solving conflicts and following group routines.
Language and early academics: Daily conversation, books and songs build vocabulary, and teachers introduce early math and literacy in age appropriate ways.
Confidence and independence: Kids learn to separate from parents, try new things and handle small challenges on their own.

None of these require a child to sit at a desk. Most of the learning happens through play, conversation and routine.

Brain Development and Cognitive Skills.jpg

What age does preschool start?

Most preschools start at age 3. Some programs accept children at 2 and a half, especially if they're potty trained or close to it, while others have a firm cutoff based on the child's age by a certain date in the fall.

Before age 3, children are usually in toddler programs rather than preschool. Those programs still include plenty of learning (songs, stories, early words and movement), but the day is built around younger children's needs for naps, snacks and lots of active play.

Is earlier always better? Not necessarily. Some 3 year olds are eager for a classroom, and others need a few more months at home or in a smaller setting. Our post on the best age to put a child in daycare covers that decision in more detail.

Before age 3, children are usually in toddler programs rather than preschool. Those programs still include plenty of learning (songs, stories, early words and movement), but the day is built around younger children's needs for naps, snacks and lots of active play.

Is earlier always better? Not necessarily. Some 3 year olds are eager for a classroom, and others need a few more months at home or in a smaller setting. Our post on the best age to put a child in daycare covers that decision in more detail.

This is why the adults in a child's day matter so much. A loving home provides plenty of serve and return. A high quality early learning program adds more of it, from teachers who are trained to notice, respond and build on what a child is trying to say or do.

What does the research say about preschool and school success?

Most children spend one to two years in preschool. A child who starts at 3 typically has two years before kindergarten, often a 3 year old class followed by a 4 year old or pre-K class. A child who starts at 4 usually has one year.

Half day vs full day preschool

Programs come in a few common formats.

Half day preschool usually runs a few hours in the morning, sometimes only a few days a week.
Full day preschool runs closer to a full school day and often includes lunch and rest time.
Full day childcare with preschool runs a full workday, with preschool lessons built into the schedule.

Which one is right depends on your work schedule and your child. Many children do well with a full day, and some do better easing in with shorter days.

The most famous long term study is the HighScope Perry Preschool Study. Here's what the HighScope project page reports:

From 1962 to 1967, 123 preschool children in Ypsilanti, Michigan, who were considered at risk of school failure were randomly assigned to two groups. 58 attended a high quality preschool program and 65 did not.
Researchers followed the participants through age 40.
At age 40, those who attended the program had higher high school graduation rates, better employment and higher earnings and were less likely to commit crimes than those who didn't attend.
HighScope estimates a return of $12.90 for every dollar invested in the program.

It's an important study, and it's worth being honest about its limits. It was small, it focused on children from families facing real disadvantage and it was a carefully designed program. Results like these don't automatically transfer to every preschool everywhere.

Do the benefits of preschool fade?

Sometimes, yes. Researchers use the word "fadeout" to describe how some of the early academic gains from preschool can shrink in the elementary years. A 2018 study in the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, Do High Quality Kindergarten and First Grade Classrooms Mitigate Preschool Fadeout?, notes that preschool's short term academic benefits may fade and looks at which school conditions might help them last.

What does that mean for you? Two things. Quality matters most, both in preschool and in the grades that follow. And the benefits that seem to last longest often aren't test scores at all, but the habits, social skills and confidence a child carries forward.

What do preschool benefits look like later in school?

Here's how the skills children build in the early years tend to show up once they reach kindergarten and the early grades.

Skill area	What it looks like in preschool	What it looks like later in school
Self control	Waiting a turn, cleaning up when asked	Staying with a lesson, following classroom rules
Social skills	Sharing toys, joining group play	Working in partners and small groups, making friends
Language	Telling about their day, retelling stories	Reading comprehension, explaining their thinking
Early math	Counting objects, sorting by shape or color	Number sense, recognizing patterns in math
Confidence	Singing or speaking in front of the class	Raising a hand, presenting work, trying hard problems
Independence	Opening lunch, managing a coat	Organizing materials, handling a full school day

Does preschool help every child succeed?

Not always, and anyone who tells you otherwise is overselling it. Plenty of children who skip preschool do just fine, especially when they have a home full of books, conversation and play. In our experience, the families who see the biggest benefits are the ones who pair a quality program with steady engagement at home.

Some children also aren't ready for a full day classroom at the age their parents hoped, and that's okay. If you're weighing timing, our post on kindergarten readiness includes a checklist that can help you see where your child is right now.

What makes an early childhood program high quality?

Since quality drives results, here's what to look for when you visit a program.

Warm, responsive teachers who get down on a child's level and talk with them, not just at them.
Trained, screened staff. Ask about credentials like the CDA, CPR and First Aid training and background checks.
A balance of play and structure. Children need free play and guided learning time.
Attention to the whole child, including movement, nutrition, emotional health and character.
A partnership with parents so what happens at school carries over at home.

If you're comparing preschools, daycare centers and other options, our guide to the types of early childhood programs breaks down how they differ.

How Benjamin Prep approaches early learning

At Benjamin Prep, we built our program around the idea that school success isn't only about academics. Our Seven Stages of Wellness framework aims for children who are well rounded, well mannered, well spoken, well nourished, well versed, well grounded in their faith and well loved by teachers who put children first.

In practice, that means a Christ centered and research driven day with STEAM+ learning, foreign language, daily physical activity, a whole foods menu and performing arts like tap, ballet and music. Our teachers are CDA qualified, trained in CPR and First Aid and background checked. Our preschool program runs through our Shooting Stars (ages 3 to 4) and Show Kids (ages 4 to 5) classes, and children continue with us through 2nd grade.

We also take the home connection seriously. Our Parent Powerhouse workshops give parents tools to support what their children are learning, which matters given what the research says about follow through. If you'd like to see it for yourself, book a visit to our Vinings campus.

Frequently asked questions

Does preschool really make a difference?

It can, especially when the program is high quality. Long term research like the HighScope Perry Preschool Study found lasting benefits into adulthood for children who attended a high quality program. Results vary by program, so quality matters more than simply enrolling.

What are the long term benefits of early childhood education?

The HighScope Perry Preschool Study, which followed participants to age 40, found higher high school graduation rates, better employment and higher earnings among those who attended the program. Day to day, parents often notice stronger social skills, language and confidence first.

Is preschool worth it if my child is already learning at home?

It depends on your child and your goals. Preschool adds daily practice with group routines, peers and trained teachers, which is hard to recreate at home. Many children learn a lot at home too, so it's a family decision rather than a requirement.

At what age do children benefit most from early education?

Brain development is especially rapid in the first years of life, so responsive care matters from infancy. Most structured preschool starts around age 3, and the year or two before kindergarten is when many families focus on school readiness.

How do I know if a preschool is high quality?

Look for warm, responsive teachers, trained and screened staff, a balance of play and guided learning and clear communication with parents. Visiting in person and watching a class is the best way to judge.

Is Benjamin Preparatory School the right fit for your family?

If you want the benefits of early childhood education to reach your child's character and faith as well as their academics, our Seven Stages of Wellness approach was built for exactly that.

Benjamin Preparatory School is a Christian preschool and daycare in the Vinings area of Atlanta at 2445 Church Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339, serving children from 6 weeks old through 2nd grade. Each school day blends faith, STEAM+ academics and daily performing arts like tap, ballet, music and drama, and a whole foods menu is included. Families in Vinings, Smyrna, Cumberland, Mableton and northwest Atlanta choose Benjamin Prep so their children can grow in faith, learning and confidence in one place. Families driving in from Marietta or Kennesaw are welcome too, and a tour is the easiest way to see whether the commute and the fit work for you.

Schedule a tour of our Vinings campus, get directions, see our programs by age, or call (770) 436-5200 to talk with our team.

About the author: Dr. Verna Benjamin-Lambert

Dr. Verna R. Benjamin-Lambert, known to families as "Dr. Benji," is the founder of Benjamin Preparatory School, which she started as The Benjamin Preschool of Academic and Performing Arts in Smyrna, Georgia. She holds a doctorate in education leadership from Nova Southeastern University and is a graduate of St. Joseph's Teachers' College in Jamaica. Before founding the school, she served as an administrator in a Georgia school system, where she advocated for students who were falling behind academically.

Dr. Benji is also an author. Her book Health Intelligence: The Path to a Healthier You looks at the core issues behind childhood obesity, and her Healthy Benji children's books help young readers build healthy eating habits. One belief guides every classroom at Benjamin Prep: "Every child has a soul, and every soul has a purpose."

Meet Dr. Benji and browse her books.

Dr. Verna R. Benjamin-Lambert, known to families as "Dr. Benji," is the founder of Benjamin Preparatory School, which she started as The Benjamin Preschool of Academic and Performing Arts in Smyrna, Georgia. She holds a doctorate in education leadership from Nova Southeastern University and is a graduate of St. Joseph's Teachers' College in Jamaica. Before founding the school, she served as an administrator in a Georgia school system, where she advocated for students who were falling behind academically.

Dr. Benji is also an author. Her book Health Intelligence: The Path to a Healthier You looks at the core issues behind childhood obesity, and her Healthy Benji children's books help young readers build healthy eating habits. One belief guides every classroom at Benjamin Prep: "Every child has a soul, and every soul has a purpose."

Meet Dr. Benji and browse her books.