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11/17/2008
According to a November 14, 2008 article from The Associated Press, a recent study of Pennsylvania Head Start programs shows that preschool children benefit from being taught social skills along with the academic basics. Using funding from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, 44 Head Start classrooms (made up of approximately 350 4-year-olds) participated in the study. Half of the classes received the traditional Head Start curriculum, while the other half also added a program called REDI Head Start. REDI Head Start incorporates special social lessons that teach specific problem-solving skills, as well as interactive reading to build comprehension and vocabulary. The students who were in the enriched classrooms performed better on tests of school readiness. The article also includes tips for parents to reinforce social skills in their preschoolers.
The article is available at the MSNBC Web site.
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