What Early Childhood Education is all about?
Thousands of children enter Pre-School each year. The first day of school is great. If you remember, your parents must have celebrated this very special day with a photograph of you as this is a huge milestone in a child’s life. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Early Childhood Education (ECE) is the education of children from birth through age 8.
During this phase of life, the foundation for cognitive, physical and emotional development is built. This is the period of intense rapid growth and development. ECE fosters a healthy foundation for life. Young children generally start basic learning including walking, talking, naming colours and shapes, alphabets and counting at home.
The other part of early childhood education is formal education between 2-8 years of age. There is a variety of formats of formal education designed specifically for children at each individual age. Educational programs may include childcare, daycare, preschool and kindergarten. Early childhood education allows children to apply what they‘ve learned at home with individuals outside of their family. In ECECP classrooms, young children are provided with a safe, nurturing environment for interaction, stimulation and social activity.
These are the foundational aspects of academic learning. Early Childhood Education & Care (ECECP) includes all forms of formal and informal education provided to young children up to 8 years of age. There are several different aspects that all combine to contribute to a child’s early education. The primary source of informal education for a child’s development is its relationship with his parents, therefore, the parents are considered as child’s first teachers. This relationship is critical in first 2-3 years of age, as the quality of the attachment formed during these years can have a significant impact on a child’s future education.
