* Cognitive Development: Stimulating a child's intellectual curiosity and developing foundational skills in areas like language, numeracy, and problem-solving. This involves activities like storytelling, singing, playing games, and early literacy and numeracy introductions.
* Social and Emotional Development: Fostering social skills such as cooperation, sharing, and empathy. It also helps children develop self-confidence, independence, and emotional regulation. This is achieved through group activities, play, and interaction with peers and teachers.
* Physical Development: Enhancing gross and fine motor skills through activities like playing, drawing, and physical exercise. This contributes to their overall health and well-being.
* Preparation for Primary School: Pre-primary education aims to prepare children for the more formal learning environment of primary school. It helps them adapt to a structured setting and develop the necessary learning habits and skills.
* Early Intervention: For children from disadvantaged backgrounds, pre-primary education can provide crucial early intervention to address any developmental delays and improve their overall readiness for school.
* Bridging the Gap: Pre-primary education can help bridge the gap in learning opportunities between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring a more equitable start to their education.
While the formal structure and quality of pre-primary education varies across Nigeria, the overall aim is to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment that supports the holistic development of young children and sets them up for success in their later educational journey.