Importance of Early Childhood Education
Have you ever wondered what would happen if your child gets an advantage, in certain crucial aspects, that may or may not be available for other children?
- A few extra hours to write the exam paper
- A head start of 1 km in a marathon
- A few extra marks in a competitive exam
- Extra money for his/ her college education
The advantage could be the difference between failure and success. Wouldn’t you agree? Now, some of the above-shared advantages may seem unreal (mostly because they are likely impossible). But not all advantages that your child can gain will be unreal or unlikely. We are talking about the advantages of early childhood education can give your child. Early childhood education has broad social benefits for children. In addition, introducing kids to subjects, especially Math and English can have a lasting impact on them.
As per Dr Jessica Alvarado, academic program director for the BA in Early Childhood Development at National University, the first few years of childhood, when a child first learns how to interact with others (parents, peers and teachers), is an important time. These are the years when children begin to develop interests that will stay with them throughout their lives. She further says, “Early childhood care and education (ECCE) 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 wellbeing. ECCE has the possibility to nurture caring, capable and responsible future citizens.”
On similar lines, below are a few more advantages of early childhood education.
- Early childhood education gives your children a bright start. As discussed above, the best time to introduce young children to education is right after they turn three. Most of the nurturing and education efforts should be put forth before the child is four. Doing so helps them learn more and quickly. Besides that, children who get proper attention early in their life are more likely to do better in school and have a better shot at a socially viable, happier life.
- They develop a liking for education. Introducing your children to education at a young age, when they are developing their interests that would last for a lifetime, helps them develop a liking for studies. Early childhood education, coupled with constant encouragement, a suitable learning environment, and the right kind of support, can also help them inculcate self-learning as a regular habit, which would bear fruitful results in the long run.
- Helps your kids socialize better. Children learn the basic concept of social interaction at a very young age. Pre-kindergarten learning programmes can be a great opportunity for your kids to learn to socialize and make friends, in a safe environment, away from family members.
- Kids can learn important values. Love, compassion, respect for others and the environment, teamwork, cooperation, etc. are some important values that your children can learn, without your help, at early childhood programmes.
Caters to the hunger for learning. Most children have an undying thirst for knowledge, which a traditional school environment, their regular teachers and even parents might not be able to quench. Early childhood learning programmes such as the ones offered by Kumon can be a good way to help children satisfy their need for knowledge. Kumon learning programmes, unlike regular school course material, encourages children to learn for themselves, using critical worksheets designed to help them learn at their own pace, irrespective of their age or grade.
To learn more about early childhood learning programmes, visit Kumon.
