Something worth thinking about

CHANGES in thinking about children has led to rumblings from families in the preschool sector.
Studies have shown that preschool is a necessary part of early childhood development and there are even demands that three year olds be given this benefit.
My view is that one of the prime factors in these rumblings being kept to only a rumble is that the younger sector of our community runs preschools.
They manage because the alternative is nothing for their children.
People who run preschools for the most part are young, fit and healthy individuals.
They want their children to do well or at least to be given the opportunity to do well.
They work in a voluntary capacity to provide something for their children and for other parents’ children that they believe is vital in getting kids started.
They have enormous energy and have managed because of their dedication and willingness to provide a necessary community service.
They become fundraisers, managers, carers, hirers and firers.
But despite all this effort and a council contribution in the form of preschool buildings too many children miss out on the traditional year at preschool because of the cost to families.
Preschooling has changed from an optional in society to a social necessity and there is strong thinking that it should come under the Department of Education and Training.
A 34,000signature petition to the government supports this thinking.
However, my colleague Paul Dunlop ‘Gazette 23 August’, has a State Government spokesperson Sofia Dedes refuting this on the grounds that ‘kindergartens’ needed to be linked in with the whole range of services for young children and families.
She said they needed to be linked with services such as childcare and playgroups.
But three year olds groups are also mostly voluntary groups that cater for the ‘better off’ section of the community.
One of my concerns is that because of the current ‘voluntary’ system those in lesser circumstances miss out.
Another view I have is that a compulsory preschool system and in addition threeyearold kindergarten would bring all children into a system of early intervention and unearth those in situations of poverty and or abuse.
When an organisation as large as the Windermere Child and Family Services says it cannot cope with all requests it receives to assist children in crisis, there is a serious problem.
It is time for governments to wake up, listen, and find an effective system of child abuse prevention.
One child is abused every 13 minutes in Australia, and we live in a ‘civilised’ country.
Think about it.