Why is early childhood education important?

Early childhood education is usually for children between the ages of three and five. It is commonly referred to as pre-school, or play home or kindergarten. The main aim at this stage of education is to prepare children for primary school. Children learn best when they are not pushed too hard and when they are given space for creativity. And preschools generally give children a free rein to explore their environment and learn through play way methods.

Another common misconception is that early childhood education is only focused on learning basic skills. It is in fact a lot more. It is a period when children learn critical social and emotional skills. It also lays the foundation for a firm bond between the child, their parents and the teacher. When this is done successfully, it paves the wave for this to continue throughout the child’s academic years.  Preschools give children the special attention they need before entering the formal education system and this foundation gives them a head start for their future.

According to UNESCO early childhood education “is more than preparation for primary school. It aims at the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and well being.”

Studies have shown that introducing children to concepts of science, math, and technology early on has a positive impact on their academic learning capabilities. Another important aspect is the interaction of children and teachers. When children start school early it gives teachers a chance to get to know the child well and understand their special interests and capabilities. And when the child sees the teacher is interested in him /her it creates a sense of trust and children learn better when they are in an environment they can trust.

Parent interaction also plays a large role in this stage of learning. Parents have the chance to learn to work in partnership with the teaching community. And when the child sees that this relationship between the teacher and primary caregivers – the parents, is a positive one, they also learn to get comfortable in the system.  This gives them a positive outlook to learning and the school system. Therefore it is critical that parent and teach partnership at this stage of learning is a successful one.

In preschool, children learn how to be students.  They are taught to raise their hands and take turns. Children also learn how to share the teacher's attention.  They learn to have a routine, and follow instructions. Most importantly going to preschool helps children learn to separate themselves from their parent or caregiver. It is the first step towards being independent and learning to be confident in the outside world.

In conclusion, A quality early childhood education provides children with cognitive, behavioral and social skills they cannot learn at home. Teachers say that children with a strong preschool education have a better grasp of language skills, comprehension, and attention management. They also tend to have lifelong love for learning.