Importance of Early Childhood

Early childhood is defined as the period from birth to eight years old. A time of remarkable brain growth, these years lay the foundation for subsequent learning and development.  Early childhood is a crucial time period for the development of the mental functions of children. This development, including the emergence of the abilities and skills in areas such as language, motor skills, psychosocial cognitive and learning, is now known to be greatly influenced by exogenous factors, including the nature of the educational environment to which the child is exposed during the first 6 to 8 years of life (Bowman, Donovan and Burns, 2001). The vast majority of neurons are developed between birth and age three, as this is the brain’s peak capacity to retain new information. Since children are most receptive to information at a young age, early learning exposure plays an essential role in fostering mental development.

Science shows that taking in new sights, sounds and information plays a paramount component in the formation of active neural pathways. Research shows that kids who had early childhood education often are better students throughout school, go on to college, earn higher salaries, and use fewer government services as adults. Further, early gains in school readiness due to early childhood education have been shown to have enormous positive economic and social impacts lasting well into adulthood, from higher educational attainment and less chance of involvement in criminal activity, to higher status employment and higher earnings (Schweinhart 2007; Sparling, Ramey and Ramey 2007).

      Scientists have learned that a toddler’s brain develops over one hundred trillion brain synapses. A brain synapse is the "wiring" between two brain cells that grasps new learning. The more the synapses, the more your brain will learn! It is during this time that the human brain has the highest potential for new learning in its lifetime. Recognizing shapes, drawing, singing and playing with toys are all examples of behaviors your child learns in the first few years of life.

       By their third birthday, a child should be able to do many things, including throw a ball overhand, feed themselves, ride a tricycle, balance on one foot or copy a circle, just to name a few. And by age 4, your child will begin knowing their first and last name, following family rules, recognizing colors, eating by themselves, dressing themselves, etc.

    High-quality preschools and pre-kindergartens are geared to give your child a jumpstart to learning. Most have standards in place to prepare your child for kindergarten, so that on the first day of school, your child is ready to learn. A child should to learn certain things in preschool, just as you would expect your elementary student to learn how to read and do basic math.

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Work Cited

Bowman, B., Donovan, M, & Burns, M., eds. (2001). Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers, Committee on Early Childhood Pedagogy, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Developmental Monitoring and Screening (2012, July 12). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/screening.html

Karoly, Lynn., Kilburn, Rebecca,.  (2005). Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9145/index1.html

National Eduation Organization. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/18163.htm

Schweinhart, L. J., (2007). "Outcomes of the High/Scope Perry preschool Study and Michigan School Readiness Program" in Early Child Development From Measurement to Action: A Priority for Growth and Equity, M. E. Young (Ed.), International Bank for Reconstruction/World Bank, Washington, DC.

Shapiro, E. (2013, September 11). Early childhood education Retrieved from Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_childhood_education

UNESCO. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/