CHICAGO, IL, September 21, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The team at Little Hands Learning Center is passionate about transforming early education in Chicago, which is why the staff promotes a current article featured in Chicago Sun-Times that advises parents as to why it is important get their kids to preschool and avoid absenteeism. The report first quotes Woody Allen, asserting that "80 percent of success is showing up." While this statement applies to most challenges in life, the article is quick to note that it is also excellent advice for preschool students: "Children who attend preschool are more likely to go to college and earn higher incomes, and are less likely to go to prison or rely on government assistance."

Also according to the article, "In Chicago, a new study concludes, children in preschool have a fairly poor attendance rate as a group, and those who don't show up consistently may be paying a price. Chronically absent preschoolers are less likely to be prepared for kindergarten and less likely to attend school consistently in later grades. Children who consistently miss school in those early grades, in turn - and we know we're stating the obvious - fall behind academically."

The compassionate staff at Little Hands Learning Center also acknowledges this issue of absenteeism, adding that parents must diligently see to it that their kids are regularly present. The team strives to serve as strong advocates for the importance of early childhood education, imploring parents to enroll their kids and help them reap the benefits of imaginative learning and fun. "Preparing children to lead successful lives starts soon after they are born," said a representative. "Research indicates that starting children on a path to education before they reach kindergarten will dramatically improve many areas of their lives. Children who frequently attend early childhood education initiatives, including quality preschool programs, are more likely to go on to succeed in the future."

According to the study conducted by the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools, "Chronic absenteeism is rampant among preschoolers in Chicago. The children most likely to benefit from regular preschool attendance - the kids who enter preschool with the weakest skills in recognizing letters, counting and such - were the most likely to be chronically absent." The report further indicates that "the absentee problem is especially serious among African-American children, who are almost twice as likely to be chronically absent than other preschool children - even after accounting for greater poverty among black children."

The team at Little Hands Learning Center is relentless in encouraging parents of all races and backgrounds to get their kids to school every day, beginning with preschool. "Preschool is the foundation for so many children," said a staff person. The staff at Little Hands Learning Center acknowledges that early childhood education is the first step on the ladder of success.

ABOUT:

Little Hands Learning Center was created in 2002 with the goal of fostering lifelong learning and future success. The group aims to cultivate the "whole child" - focusing on the emotional, physical, intellectual and imaginative needs of every child. The group implements current learning practices and techniques to live out their vision of offering quality childhood education and care, supplying parents with the tools they need to utilize play-based learning methods at home as well. Little Hands is devoted to leveraging a curriculum and environment that promotes critical thinking, problem solving, social development and much more.