Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Almost half of parents want their children to be taught bike riding at pre-school
At preschool, children become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. It is also an extension of the ‘work’ that parents have been putting in to help their child gain a grip on the world.
- As a national preschool group introduces bike riding classes for children, research shows that a third of parents wish they had learnt how to ride a bike at a younger age over reading or writing.
- The research from The Co-operative Childcare, which is introducing bike riding classes, also found that 81% of parents believe that children’s experiences at pre-school can affect their social skills in later life.
- On top of social skills, parents also revealed that physical activity is important too.
More importantly recent research from The Co-operative Childcare found that 81% of parents believe that children’s experiences at pre-school can affect their social skills in later life. This is likely to be the first point where children learn how to socialise - get along with children, share and contribute to time with others.
Parents note that although reading and writing are of high importance to them, social skills are key on the list of considerations when thinking about childcare.
On top of social skills, parents also revealed that physical activity is important too. The research shows that over a third of parents wish they had learnt how to ride a bike at a younger age over reading or writing.
As a result, almost half now say they want their children to learn to ride a bike while they are still at pre-school and 42% confessed to worrying that their pre-schooler would struggle to make new friends in a new environment.
Preschool is a key part of the education system – and the movement from nursery to primary school is a very big and challenging one for many children and therefore shouldn’t be underestimated. Pre-school aims to give children the necessary skills they will need at school – whilst in a familiar surrounding.
Non-academic activities in these environments are increasingly becoming an important part of a child’s early development, allowing them to explore their creativity, individuality and of course to socialise and interact with their peers.