If you’re a parent you’ll be familiar with the feeling of wanting to do everything you can to protect your child and provide them with an amazing life. There are many different ways this feeling manifests itself. You provide emotional support, encourage them at every turn, and try to teach them the things that are important.
This is where early childhood education comes in. Early learning is a crucial part of your child’s development and can even determine how successful they are later on in their academic and professional lives.
That’s why this guide is going to take a closer look at the importance of early childhood education. Read on for everything you need to know.
What is Early Childhood Education?
Early childhood education is a broad term. Also known as nursery education or pre-primary education, it refers to any education that occurs in the preschool years. Some sources extend the age range as high as 8 years old.
This is a period when your child’s brain is undergoing a period of intense development and change. Because of this, what they learn during this time can have a lasting impact. That’s why so much importance is placed on education during this period.
Why is it Important?
There are many reasons your child can benefit from education in early childhood. For one thing, it prepares your child for school, an unfamiliar environment many kids struggle in. There is much evidence to suggest that have found this type of education can facilitate greater academic success later on in life.
But it’s not all about academics. Early education also helps with other important life skills. It can help your child to communicate better and to be more adept at socializing.
It’s also a time when any learning difficulties your child might have can come to light. If your child does have some sort of condition that affects their ability to learn like their peers, early intervention is key.
Elements of Quality Early Childhood Education
Because early childhood education is such a broad term, it can look lots of different ways in practice. There are some elements it should always include, however. In fact, the National Education Association has set criteria a high-quality early childhood program should feature.
It should provide a well-rounded curriculum, address areas such as health, nutrition, and family needs, and assess children to identify potential concerns. If you’d like to learn more about what a great early education program looks like, there are many great resources available on Mochildcareaware.org.
Early Learning: An Important Step in Your Child’s Development
Early childhood education is a wonderful resource for your child to have access to. It gives them a leg up in life and prepares them to step into the real world as students.