Literacy (reading/writing) and Math are often misunderstood by many parents, and even some Preschools, as the two top areas of importance in Early Childhood Development. Parents are often panicking their child is not interested in writing, or memorizing all 26 letters in the alphabet when they will begin kindergarten in a year. However, please trust me when I say...STOP. ALL areas of development are equally important and should ALL be a focus in your child's life. All developmental areas are dependent upon each other's growth.

*For example, in order to write their name one day (literacy and communication/language development), a young child must have developed the fine motor skills to do so (physical development/motor skills).
In order for a child to recognize the letters of the alphabet or count to 20 (literacy, communication, and math skills), they need to build the CONFIDENCE and independence to do so (social/emotional development). They need to have an understanding of symbolic representation before they can even comprehend the purpose of letters. They need to understand letters make words...and words make up the language we speak and write. There's no rush--and rushing can hinder academic performance in the future.

*Would you build a house without a foundation, plumbing, electrical wiring, insulation, or studs in the wall? No. Expecting a child to jump straight to writing their name or learning addition and subtraction problems at age 2 or 3 would be like only building the exterior parts of a house without all those important things on the inside.

All areas of development should be recognized and treated equally in order for a child to truly grasp these concepts.