Why Early Education is important?

 Early Education refers to the period from a child’s birth to they enter kindergarten. It

is an important period in a child’s life because they learn all the needed basic skills such as

interacting with parents, peers, teachers, and others. They also develop interests which they are

going to follow throughout their lives.  In recent years, researchers have learned that the human

brain develops the vast majority of its neurons, and is at its most receptive to learning, between

birth and three years of age. In fact, the intake of new information is critical to the formation of

active neural pathways (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000).

“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.”

Early education helps in imparting the social and emotional skills in the children which

will have a greater impact on their lives. The development in the early childhood stage lays a

foundation for their long-term success. Without proper early childhood education, 25% of the

children are more likely to drop out of school, 60% of children don’t make it to college.

These figures help us to analyze and understand the importance of early childhood education.

Early Childhood Care and Education include a broad spectrum of young children, usually,

it focuses on educating children before they start compulsory education. Early childhood care

and education typically refer to infant care, daycare, preschool, pre-kindergarten, and

kindergarten. Early Childhood Care and Education help in achieving equitable, healthy, and

productive societies.

Early childhood programs are designed to improve the survival, growth, and development

of young children. Many are directed towards disadvantaged children, with the aim to improve

school readiness skills and ameliorate achievement outcomes for disadvantaged students,

including young girls (Schweinhart, 2005). ECCE also increases school readiness to improve

educational achievement, resulting in greater earning potential and productivity. Lastly, early

childhood programs provide socialization through children interacting with peers and adults,

learning social norms, and developing social-emotional and problem-solving skills.

Originally posted by Early Childhood Education UAE