R.A.
            
             Title
             Today, over 98% of all children attend kindergarten prior to
             entering first grade (Education School Readiness). Unfortunately,
             for reasons not covered in this paper, many of these children are
             not fully prepared to participate in their very first school experience.
             One way to help a child prepare to enter kindergarten is to enroll
             him/her in an early childhood program. Early childhood programs
             such as Head Start, day care and preschool aid in developing and
             helping children become ready for kindergarten. 1
             There are a variety of things that contribute to whether or not
             a child will be successful in school. Some of these include good
             health and physical well-being, social and emotional maturity,
             language skills, an ability to solve problems and think creatively,
             and general knowledge about the world (Helping Your Child...What
             Does It Mean...). Different schools have different expectations for
             the children. One school may think it's important to sit quietly and
             know the alphabet. Another school may believe that it's more
             important for children to get along with others. All of these skills and
             more can be introduced to the young child in an early childhood
             setting.
             Good health and physical well-being for young children
             includes providing them with nutritious food, plenty of sleep, safe
             places to play, and regular medical care. These things help children
             get a good start on life and reduce the chances that they will have
             health problems or trouble learning later in life.
             Social and emotional preparation are very important for
             children who are just beginning school. Young children are often
             very excited about entering school, but when they do, they usually
             face an environment that is different from what they're used to at
             home. In kindergarten, the children will need to work well in large
             groups and get along with new adults and other children. They will
             also have to learn to share the teacher...