The Head Start preschool project began in 1965 as a direct outgrowth of the U.S. government’s war on poverty. It started with the assumption that 3 and 4 year old children from low income families could be more prepared to deal with their total environment if they had participated in a comprehensive early childhood experience which considered every aspect of their developmental needs. Head Start focuses not only on intellectual needs but on disabilities, health, mental health, nutritional and perhaps most important, on social needs.
In the first experience away from home, the child will develop competence. He or she will learn to get along with different people, learn to share, take turns, express him/herself verbally and take care of many of his/her physical needs. Parents play a big part in the success of their child at Head Start. Parents do this by learning, doing, and by visiting the classroom when possible and becoming involved in all of the parent activities.
