Early childhood is the time between a child’s birth and their fifth-year birthday. This period is critical in a child’s educational and social life. This is the part where the child starts developing their own identity, including growing their cognitive skills (Richter et al., 2019). The brain of the child is usually at its most impressionable time during these formative years, and early childhood education helps direct and change the developmental path of the child (Alfonso & DuPaul, 2020). This article will help outline the advantages of early childhood education, especially in terms of a kid’s growth during these important years.
Importance
ECE provides a path for the intellectual growth of the child. Cognitive and intellectual improvement is an important goal during this period because it strengthens the ability of the child to think critically and understand concepts that are taught to them (Karlsson Lohmander, 2022). Linguistic and literacy skills depend on the intellectual capacity of the child. Children who have rich thinking skills are capable of understanding the literacy concepts that are taught to them, making it easier for them to identify letters and know how to pronounce words. Through ECE, the child is able to understand how to read and write, providing them with the ability to master languages.
Fine and gross motor skills are developed during ECE. Physical development often involves the child engaging in playful activities with their peers, including indulging in role-play (Lifter et al., 2011). Games such as jump rope and hopscotch help to strengthen the legs and the muscles of the children. The child is also capable of bettering their strength and mastering balance and coordination (Lifter et al., 2011). These are critical activities for a child to learn as it dictates whether they will be able to meet their physical milestones. ECE helps children to grow their muscles and bones, helping them to learn balance and coordination from a young age.
ECE is also critical in helping improve the emotional skills of the child. During this period, the child is capable of interacting with other students and understanding what it means to be happy or sad (Karlsson Lohmander, 2022). Through social interactions, the kid improves their emotional skills, which is critical in helping them maintain long-term relationships and express themselves. Children who face challenges to grow their emotional skills tend to have mental problems and end up being serial killers. An excellent example of a child who did not experience sufficient emotional growth is Jeffrey Dahmer, who grew up as a lone child and failed to develop empathetic skills (Palermo, 2022). The result of this growth is that he ended up being one of the most famous serial killers in the US.
In line with emotional growth is social development, which helps children understand how to make new friends. During the ECE period, a child gets to understand how to connect with other children (Alfonso & DuPaul, 2020). Often, the teachers will give the kids group assignments to motivate them to work together towards a common goal. This is a crucial time that helps the child to understand how to communicate with others, including taking turns during conversations (Alfonso & DuPaul, 2020). Children who often skip this important process end up having challenges connecting with other individuals and maintaining long-term relationships.
Conclusion
Finally, a child’s overall development is crucial to their growth. All these aspects of development are achieved during the ECE stage. Without ECE, children will have problems interacting with each other and regulating their emotions. This is also an important period for children to build their physical strength by playing with other kids. The importance of ECE cannot be understated, and it is why parents are encouraged to seek good caregivers for their children during this time of their development.
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Written by: Alex Liau
Published on 4 July 2024
