Child Development Early Child Education

Some of the most important educational development of a child's life occurs before their seventh birthday. Because of the importance of these early years for future development, it is important that parents and educators be aware of the workings of early childhood development and properly implement early childhood education strategies to ensure that the young child gets as much enrichment as possible during these crucial early years.

Types

The two basic types of early childhood education are provided in the home and in educational centers that cater to young children, such as daycare establishments, preschools and kindergartens. It is important that the child receives high levels of quality education from all parts of his educational world. If one part of the educational equation falls short---if the parents fail to provide adequate support and enrichment or if the child is enrolled in a subpar school---the child will be at a distinct disadvantage in the future.

Benefits

Early childhood education helps children to develop faster by encouraging them to pick up new and age-appropriate skills in the company of their parents, teachers and peers. At the same time, early childhood education brings future behavioral, developmental or health problems to the attention of parents and teachers at an earlier date and more adequately prepares children to be lifelong students and learners.

Warning

While the importance of early childhood education and the role that it plays in childhood development cannot be emphasized enough, it is important to note that children are, in fact children, and should be allowed to enjoy their childhood to the fullest. While age-appropriate toddler education should be undertaken, it is important to remember that these youthful years should also be spent engaging in free play and imaginative activities. These fanciful activities are also an important part of child development.

Time Frame

Early childhood education is essentially the education that takes place between birth and the end of kindergarten. This stretch of five to seven years is an important factor in the lifelong education of a child. Although the time period itself is short, it will set the stage for the rest of a child's educational career.

Features

A successful program of early childhood and toddler education will include: exposure to extensive vocabularies through books, songs and games; practice in logical thinking and simple problem solving through playing with puzzles or learning simple addition with concrete visuals like apples or blocks; and socialization activities to ensure that a child will be able to properly interact at school and in a social environment through play in a regulated environment promoting positive interactions with other children their own age.

References

• Benefits of Early Childhood Education