Why is early childhood education so important?

By The Editorial Team, Resilient Education

Every year, tens of millions of parents enrol their children in early childhood education programs. These programs vary widely, with some parents putting their children in religious academies and others receiving the go-ahead to enroll their children in low-income programs such as Head Start. But does early childhood education actually make a difference in terms of educational attainment?

Parents often wonder why young children need to be enrolled in preschool. Some assume their kids are only learning the names of the letters or numbers–concepts they feel they could easily teach on their own. However, a wealth of recent research points to a great need for mental stimulation between the ages of 2 to 5, as this is when children make the greatest gains in learning. For example, toddlers are barely able to put a sentence together, but by the time they enter kindergarten, kids can have long, complicated discussions with adults.

According to a 2007 publication from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, children build more complex skills from the basic, foundational capabilities (often fostered in early development curricula). Children placed in preschool programs are given greater opportunities to develop a wide range of skills, thus better preparing them for the additional challenges that will be presented in kindergarten.  And with the ever-increasing push for high test scores, children not enrolled in preschool risk being incredibly far behind from the moment they begin grade school.

The evidence makes it clear: early childhood education is a worthwhile investment. Parents able to enroll their children in preschool should definitely do so, as it provides their kids with a significant step up in life. And society needs to place a greater emphasis on funding programs such as Head Start, for these could potentially bring millions of low-income kids up into the middle class.

Works Cited:

YouTube, https://www.istockphoto.com/id/ilustrasi/preschool-age. Accessed 25 July 2022.

“Benefits of Early Childhood Education.” Resilient Educator, https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/can-early-childhood-education-impact-graduation-rates/. Accessed 25 July 2022.