Early childhood education is much more than just preparation for primary school. During the first years of life, our brains undergo extraordinary growth. Studies have shown that the neural connections in our brains—the foundation for all thought, communication, and learning—are established most rapidly in early childhood. This period is crucial for developing cognitive, social, emotional, and physical capabilities.
Education is a fundamental right from birth. However, 1 in 4 children aged five have never experienced any form of pre-primary education, and only half of all countries guarantee free pre-primary education worldwide.
At Maryvale, we believe in the transformative power of early childhood education. Since opening our first child daycare center in 1968 to meet the educational needs of children, we have been dedicated to serving the early childhood education needs of the San Gabriel Valley. When children are healthy, safe, and have access to knowledge from an early age, they can reach their full potential and integrate successfully into society.
Children are born eager to learn. They are amazed when exploring their world and making connections. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) stresses the importance of developing appropriate practices to foster young children’s joyful learning. We will outline these principles and emphasize the most relevant parts for action.
Principles of Child Development and Learning in Early Childhood Education
NAEYC’s guidelines and recommendations are based on these nine principles and their implications for early childhood education professional practice.
- Children’s Growth: Both biology and environment play a role from birth.
- Importance of Early Experiences: Quality early education influences lifelong success.
- Neural Connections: Many are made in early childhood. Interactions between adults and infants strengthen these connections.
- Adversity’s Impact: Persistent lack of care and poverty can cause stress that harms brain development and learning.
- Diversity and Adversity: All communities are different. Systemic inequity can result in more stress and trauma for specific racial and ethnic groups.
- Individual Variability: Some children are more affected by their environment than others. Positive relationships and quality education can help reduce the impact of stress and adversity.
- Whole Child Development: All areas of a child’s development are essential and interrelated. This includes physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and linguistic domains.
- Comprehensive Development: Children’s learning in different areas influences each other. It’s important to support all areas of development.
- Play and Learning: Play is key to learning and development across all domains. It should be a fun, social, and active part of children’s lives.
The Importance of Early Childhood Education
High-quality early childhood education yields both immediate and long-term benefits. These include higher educational attainment, better adult health outcomes, and a reduced likelihood of involvement in crime, thereby underscoring the societal and individual benefits of investing in early education programs.
Brain Development
The first few years of a child’s life are characterized by extraordinary brain growth, with neural connections forming rapidly. Early educational experiences can significantly influence the quality and resilience of the brain’s architecture and circuitry, with lasting impacts on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life.
Cognitive Skills
Early education provides children with literacy and numeracy skills that form the basis for learning. Engaging in activities that encourage reading, storytelling, and problem-solving supports cognitive development and prepares children for the academic demands of later schooling.
Social and Emotional Development
High-quality early education programs offer environments where children can learn to interact with peers and adults outside their families. These interactions help develop social skills, emotional self-regulation, and resilience. Learning to cooperate, share, and understand social dynamics at a young age is foundational for healthy social and emotional well-being.
Learning Disparities
Early education can help mitigate socio-economic disparities in learning and development. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly likely to benefit from the enriched learning environments and resources that quality early education programs provide, helping to level the playing field and close achievement gaps before they widen.
Long-term Educational Success
Research has shown that children participating in early education programs are more likely to perform well in school, graduate from high school, and pursue higher education. These early investments in a child’s education lay the groundwork for long-term academic and vocational achievements.
Economic Benefits
Investing in early education yields significant societal and economic benefits. Early education can reduce social services costs, lower crime rates, and a more educated workforce. This, in turn, contributes positively to the economy and supports the creation of equitable societies.
Foundational Life Skills
Beyond academic achievement, early education fosters the development of foundational life skills, including curiosity, perseverance, and the ability to tackle challenges. These skills are invaluable for lifelong learning and adaptation in a rapidly changing world.
The Value of Play in Early Childhood Education
Play in early education is a central teaching practice supporting young children’s development across cognitive, social, and emotional domains. Play, encompassing various forms such as self-directed, guided, solitary, and cooperative play, is essential for developing young children’s symbolic and problem-solving skills, further underscoring the comprehensive benefits of early education.
How Early Childhood Education Sets Children up for Success
Our growth and development as children are complex processes influenced by our biological characteristics and the environment where we grow up. These processes shape each other and impact future patterns of growth. Over the past twenty years, scientists have learned much about how young brains grow and how this affects us later in life. They found strong evidence that high-quality early learning experiences are significant when we are children and greatly impact our success later in life.
Early education sets the foundation for children’s success in school and life by equipping them with critical thinking skills and the ability to develop positive relationships. One of the findings from a study by the School Effectiveness and Inequality Initiative at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrates improved school performance and life outcomes for participants. Early education programs have been shown to support children in learning foundational skills required for academic achievement, including literacy and numeracy, as well as social-emotional skills such as self-control.
At Maryvale, we are aware that early education is vital to reducing the educational gap between socially advantaged and disadvantaged children. By offering equitable access to quality education in our Early Education Centers from an early age, we can contribute significantly to ensuring all children succeed regardless of their background.
Learn More and Get Involved
You can learn more about how we’re meeting these needs through our Early Education Programs. Visit Maryvale to discover how you can support our mission and help us provide a strong foundation for every child’s future
