User:Estimo/Early Education

Early Childhood Education

Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the great engine to personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine, that the child of a farm worker can become the president of a great nation." Education is a key component to achieving greatness, and it starts at an early age. Early childhood education does not need to start in a child care or at school. In fact, children start learning from the day they are born, in the comfort of their own home. Early childhood should be examined and the importance of its effects on the development of children should be stressed. The guidance of parents, support of teachers, and the benefit of educational programs are significant in positive development in a child (Back, Kimberly). Early childhood education happens everywhere. Because everything seems so new to most children, they are slowly learning about their big world. They find new things in a room that they have become familiar with, find some new idea from a book that has been read to them a million times, and pick up new words to songs they have sung over and over. They are constantly being introduced to something new (Lane, Shannon). The years before pre-school are key. During this time, what parents do to help educate children is important. It is in these years that children’s brains are developing really fast, and language skills are being developed. They aquire sensory skills as well as social and cognitive (Willbye, Theresa). It is during this crucial age of 0-6 years old, that children gain and retain information drastically, leaving a life-long effect. The environment that children grow up in is significant. There are many places that children can learn. Be it at the store, the park, play center, or at home. It is in a corner that spider webs are admired, books are read, and the joy of listening are picked up by the inquisitive child. Children learn a lot from each other while they are playing. During play, children learn how to live harmoniously with adults, with one another and learn how to become more independent ant self-reliant. It is through play that they learn how to use motor skills as well as figuring out ways to achieve a desirable goal (Lane, Shannon). Children at a very early age pick up crucial educational developmental aspects and it is important to be aware of this as a parent, care-giver, or teacher. As the child becomes older, educational programs such as Head Start and pre-school are very beneficial. What is Head Start? “It is a national program, directed under the Office of Child Development, that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families" (Figueiredo, Pedro). Studies have shown that children enrolled in Head Start programs experience great success in the academia world (HighScope). Due to the fact that children can absorb so much information during this age, intelligence is shaped by environment. Therfore, if children are placed in such educational programs, many skills such as reading, language and math will begin to develop. Children are also exposed to socialization, learn to interact with peers, develop independence, and begin to learn life lessons (Back, Kimberly). Teachers become key figures in a child’s educational development during this time. Teachers can use development appropriate practices (DAP), to help children become better learners through appropriate learning environment. DAP focuses on what is best for the children at an appropriate age, how the individual child develops, and the child’s background and how it relates to educating the child. The development appropriate practices curriculum integrates as many areas of development as possible. These include physical, social, cognitive and emotional activities. Also, positive interactions between adults and children are stressed, as well as family interaction and involvement (Child Development Center). It is with the educators help that early childhood education becomes very beneficial. “What do you want to be when you grow up” is a question that we are asked at a very young age. My answer was and still is “mom and teacher”. I think that it is very commonly underestimated how important education at home is for a child. It seems that the fact that children learn every minute of the day is overlooked. However, as we have learned, children learn from day one. It does’t matter what environment they are in, they are constantly developing new skills, and understanding. For instance, children discover the world around them and learn the basics of life when they are at play. I fully support Head Start, and pre-school programs because I believe that early childhood education should excite curiosity, stimulate creativity, and encourage the development of problem-solving skills. These programs are capable of expanding cognitive, language, and motor skills, and help children better understand him/herself and the world they live in. The concept of DAP brings forth many good insights. Most importantly, it focuses mainly on the child. It is through these practices that a child is individually looked at in order to see what methods best suit him/her. This style is also beneficial because its activities are geared toward the development in all areas. This is important because it helps a child grow in more then one area. Also, by continually assessing a child, new activities can be planned to progress the development of a child. What stuck with me while reading the article on development appropriate practices was how it recognizes the importance of family in a child’s life. Young children are integrally connected to their families and homes and this should be a key aspect to educators. It is important to place a high value on family connection for young children. Once a child leaves the comfort of his/her home, and becomes a part of a more “school” environment, I believe it is important to encourage parents to visit the child’s classroom and discuss the achievements of their child. As a parent and a teacher, it is key to know the effects of early education. Early childhood education is something that should be greatly valued and stressed in the lives of children. Children learn new things all the time. It is important to realize this and assist them during this critical time. One thing learned will lead to another, and soon the child is developing skills that will benefit them greatly in the future. It is also important to realize that early childhood education is not solely linked to school. It is in fact, the environment before a child starts school that will have a great impact on the educational development of a child. A child’s curious and absorbing nature makes education a necessity. They are thrilled to learn and this will nurture them into achieving greatness.