Four-year-old Alejandra Iglesias started pre-school a year ago; and since then, her mom has noticed a big difference.

"She say hi to a lot of people when they say hi to her," she says. "She's less shy. And she wants to learn. Everything."

According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, pre-school not only helps provide the math and early reading skills children will need in the first grade, but it also helps them learn how to respect and cooperate with other kids.

It seems the preschool years can affect a child's life forever.

"Children who have their needs met, whether they be socially or developmentally or even health care needs met, are going to be happier children," says Elaine Draeger, early education specialist.

And experts say the pre-school years are crucial because 90 percent of a child's brain development happens by age three, and their fundamental personality is set by age five.

"The best thing for parents to understand is the importance of these first five years," Draeger continues. "And unfortunately many of us think education and what's important for children doesn't start until kindergarten. And what the research is telling us is that's not the case."

Erika says pre-school has changed her daughter. That's why she's trying to convince a close friend to "bring her [daughter] to school. She's going to learn a lot and she's going to be with a lot of friends and it's her own age and she'll be ready for school."

Tips for Parents
Should preschoolers be taught to read? There is no simple answer. Some 3, 4, and 5 year olds are developmentally ready to tackle reading; others are not. By the time they are 7-years-old, most children have begun to read.

Children become readers step-by-step, starting early in life. The Department of Education puts it this way: You could say a baby starts on the road to becoming a reader the day she is born. Right away she hears sounds and sees movements. Every time you speak to her, sing to her, and respond to the sounds she makes, you strengthen her interest in language.

Helping your child develop language skills is important in laying the foundation for developing reading skills.
Experts agree that as a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher when it comes to reading. "Talking to your child, reading aloud, making up stories and singing together, scribbling with crayons and looking for print on signs and at stores are all wonderful ways to encourage pre-reading skills in children under age 6," says Joan LeFebvre of the University of Wisconsin.

The most successful readers are those children who have been read to a lot. It is best to read to your child early and often. Reading aloud to children helps them see that a book is a wonderful thing. When reading aloud, try to:

Stop frequently to help your child make sense of the story
Ask him to name pictures, complete the sentence or predict what will happen next
Be patient about repeating the same story over and over. Children may be able to begin seeing patterns and figure out how reading works when requesting the same story repeatedly
Set aside a regular time to read to your child every day.
Follow the words with your finger so your child develops a sense that the words go from left to right on the page.
Encourage your child to join in while you read. Pause to let them fill in a rhyming word or repeating line.
Begin teaching the letters of the alphabet, starting with the letters in your child's own name.
In addition, it is important to expose your child to books. Keep books in your house and visit the library frequently. The National Education Association reminds parents to set a good example as a reader. Let your child see you read at home every day, even if it is a magazine or a newspaper.