Importance of early childhood education

Let’s start this serious subject on a lighter note, with some interesting quotes.

“(24/7) once you sign on to be a mother, that’s the only shift they offer.”

― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”

― John Wilmot

Raising kids is part joy and part guerilla warfare.”

― Ed Asner

Is Early Childhood Education Important?

Early childhood education is a term that refers to the period of time from a child’s birth to when they enter kindergarten, according to Dr. Jessica Alvarado, academic program director for the BA in Early Childhood Development at National University. According to Alvarado, it is an important time in children’s lives because it is when they first learn how to interact with others, including peers, teachers and parents, and also begin to develop interests that will stay with them throughout their lives.

But Alvarado says it’s a common misperception that early childhood education is only about learning basic skills. “It’s so much more than that,” she says. “It’s a time when children learn critical social and emotional skills and a partnership is formed between the child, their parents and the teacher. When this is done successfully, it lays the groundwork for it to continue throughout the child’s education.”

Global Support For The Importance Of Early Childhood Education

Nations around that world are becoming aware of the importance of early childhood education as well. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is an international governing body whose mission is “to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through education.” Here’s what the organization says about the importance of early childhood education:

“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.”

Importance Of Early Childhood Education: Maximize Learning Outcomes for Children

In order to get the best outcomes in early childhood education, Alvarado strongly suggests working students’ natural  curiosities into  lesson plans. “Yes, we want to look at standards,” she says. “Yes, there are boxes we need to check, but a huge part of what we do with young children is looking at their interests and using those interests to better engage them in learning.”

Alvarado explains that teachers can take the topics or subject areas that fascinate individual students and expand on it through in-class or at-home activities.Targeting these areas can help students develop critical thinking skills, allowing them to give more complex answers than “yes” or “no.” To illustrate this technique, Alvarado describes a student who showed a passion for insects. At first, she says she was caught off guard and didn’t know what to do, but then she realized she could use this interest in bugs to engage the child in a number of other subjects besides science. “There could be math in there, language arts — it was really about using the child’s specific interest to open new doors for them.”

In order to get the best outcomes in early childhood education, Alvarado strongly suggests working students’ natural curiosities into lesson plans. “Yes, we want to look at standards,” she says. “Yes, there are boxes we need to check, but a huge part of what we do with young children is looking at their interests and using those interests to better engage them in learning.”

Alvarado explains that teachers can take the topics or subject areas that fascinate individual students and expand on it through in-class or at-home activities. Targeting these areas can help students develop critical thinking skills, allowing them to give more complex answers than “yes” or “no.” To illustrate this technique, Alvarado describes a student who showed a passion for insects. At first, she says she was caught off guard and didn’t know what to do, but then she realized she could use this interest in bugs to engage the child in a number of other subjects besides science. “There could be math in there, language arts — it was really about using the child’s specific interest to open new doors for them.”

A Future and Hope

The outcomes vary, as Alvarado explains, but all have been positive. “Studies have looked at everything from the broad social benefits of early childhood education, to something as specific as STEM learning outcomes (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and how introducing children to these topics early on can have a lasting impact,” she says.

She also stresses the importance of encouraging early childhood educators to really get to know their students and each of their specific interests. “When [teachers] do that, that relationship can really influence the students day to day and build trust — and studies have shown that when children are comfortable and trust the people around them, they learn more quickly and successfully,” she says.

Parental involvement is also a big component of this relationship-building process, and Alvarado says it’s important for teachers at this level to work closely with the families. “When the partnership between teachers and the family is successful, we see that echoing positively throughout the child’s life,” she explains.

Malaysian Government Support Towards The Importance Of Early Childhood Education

We welcome another piece of good news from the Ministry. Excerpt of Childcare centres to be built using RM30mil budget

Read full report  at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/10/28/childcare-centres-to-be-built-using-rm30mil-budget#1WixKRuFiqGgfsWp.99

FRONTLINE and shift workers in the public sector will have access to more childcare facilities in the future.The government is planning to provide up to 200 more childcare facilities in the workplace, as announced in Budget 2020 which was tabled in Parliament earlier this month.

“For next year’s budget, we will be given RM30mil to develop around 180 to 200 new childcare centres in the public sector, especially at hospitals and police stations,” said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh.

Conclusion To Our Future Generation

We do it for our future generation. We know we can be successful working together as a team. Therefore all parties take their roles seriously in ensuring that this allows our children to have a better quality of life.