There is no doubt that every parent wants the best for their child. As a parent, you can go to extreme lengths to provide the very best for your child, feed them quality ingredients, nurture and protect them, and offer them the highest-quality education you can afford as the importance of early childhood education can’t be denied.
However, many parents are unaware that the early days of a child’s life play a significant role in their development and future success. According to Lifehack.org, the human brain undergoes the most growth during the first three years. Therefore, that is the time a child must receive the most nurturing and care to have a fulfilling life later on.
The Development Of Critical, Emotional, And Cognitive Skills During The Early Years
The importance of early childhood education can be understood by the fact that a child develops critical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills during the first years of their life. According to Dr. Jessica Alvarado, who is the program director of the BA in Early Childhood Development at National University, the early years of a child’s life are crucial because it is a time when they start learning how to interact with people, including their teachers, their peers, their parents, and others. Moreover, during the early years, a child starts developing interests that stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Early childhood education is not just about learning basic skills, says Alvarado. The early years are when a child forms critical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills during the partnership that forms between the child, their parents, and their teachers. A successful partnership during these years provides the framework for all future developments. Therefore, there is such emphasis on the importance of early childhood education.
World nations are also becoming aware of the importance of early childhood education in shaping society’s valuable citizens. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), an international body governing matters of peace, education, eradicating poverty, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development, focuses a great deal on early literacy.
According to UNESCO, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) aims to develop a child’s emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs to build a strong foundation for well-being and learning throughout the days of their life. Through ECCE, it is possible to nurture capable, caring, and responsible citizens in society.
The Importance Of Early Childhood Education
Education during the early years has a tremendous impact on a child’s life, so important that the former US president, Barack Obama, mentioned it in his State of the Union address back in 2013.
Early education molds the child in a way that helps them tackle all that is thrown at them in life’s journey.
Here are a few benefits of early education for the child.
Eases Socialization
It is important for a child to form relationships and socialize with people other than their parents and close family members.
Sending your child to preschool helps them in overcoming shyness and gives them the confidence to interact with others safely. This is when your child develops friendships and learns about trust, teamwork, lending a helping hand, etc.—important skills that help them throughout their lives.
Holistic Development
Educators in early childhood programs are specially trained to identify areas where a child would need support and develop activities and programs around them. Children take part in these activities and learn about cooperation, inclusivity, and being helpful. This nurtures holistic development in the child and builds a strong foundation for emotional, mental, and physical development. Therefore, many educators and researchers put emphasis on the importance of early childhood education.
Learning Cooperation
While at home, your child may not be able to learn a great deal about cooperation, sharing their things with others, and waiting for their turn. However, when they are in an environment governed by professionals where they participate in various activities, they learn the previously-mentioned values very well.
Development Of Love For Learning And Education
Believe it or not, the way a child is taught during their early years stays with them throughout their lives. Whether you make learning and education fun and exciting, or you make it a detention cell, children will carry that emotion throughout their lives.
Preschools inspire children to be effective learners by making learning activities, fun, colorful, and engaging.
Teamwork
The early schooling years are when your child learns teamwork. Teamwork is an important attribute that today’s employers seek in job-seekers.
Teamwork requires having respect for others, cooperation, listening to others, and equality. All of these qualities are best learned when your child is at a pre-school where they participate in teamwork-based activities. Therefore, the importance of early childhood education demands that children be sent to preschools.
Self-Esteem And Confidence
These are very important. As a child starts interacting with others, forms friendships, participates in teamwork-based activities, and performs tasks, they develop a sense of personality. They start becoming aware of themselves and develop self-esteem and confidence.
Self-esteem and confidence allow your child to explore new things, follow their interests, make good friendships, and perform well at various activities.
Appreciation Of Diversity
When your child goes to pre-school, they will meet different children belonging to various cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions. This is the time when your child learns to appreciate diversity, accept differences, and respect others.
Appreciation of diversity is essential for a peaceful and respectable society that thrives in the world. Your child needs to understand that every individual is unique and that every culture, religion, and belief needs to be respected. This is the reason why so many researchers endorse the importance of early childhood education.
Conclusion
Early childhood education consists of all the values and skills taught to children throughout their early years. The first few years of a child’s life are the most formative—what the child learns during their first years; they carry with them throughout their lives.
Therefore, pre-school education is crucial for the emotional, mental, and physical development of a child. Children who get early education are more likely to develop skills of cooperation, teamwork, socialization, good confidence and self-esteem, and appreciation of diversity.
Many organizations and world leaders realize the importance of early childhood education. TQEE.org is one such organization of Tennesseans who are fighting for early childhood education for every child so that our children can have a fulfilling and successful life.
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