Finland has much to share about the needs of our young children. Children learn differently than adults, and the best way they do that is through play . The Joyful, Illiterate Kindergarteners of Finland (below is a repost) Parents today hear that it is important to get your child academically ready for school, making sure that direct instruction is used at their child's academic preschool. But most of the research show the same result, that kids in academic preschools do not have advantages over those in play based preschools, in fact, it shows the opposite. Kids who went to play based preschools tend to like school more, are less stressed about school, are more creative, and perform better academically and socially. Here's an article from Parents Magazine that give guidance on how to find a preschool. Play's the Thing! If you want your preschooler to be ready for the academic rigors ahead, forget about the curriculum. Instead, look for a classroo