What are the benefits of early child education?

What are the benefits of early child education?

It’s been established that the first few years of a child’s life are extremely important in terms of development. During the formative years, cognitive development is happening extremely rapidly, and children at these early stages are like little sponges, soaking up experiences to help them learn and grow. This time in childhood will have a major impact on the person the child grows to be, which is why early childhood education is so very important. Let’s look at some of the benefits of engaging a child in the right ways early in life.

• Children benefit from socialization. Spending time around their peers and learning to get along with others is important to child development. Early childhood education environments like preschool are good places to do this, with children supervised by professionals in a safe environment. As children relate to others and make friends, they develop self-confidence and learn important skills like listening, sharing, and taking turns. Teachers facilitate this process using songs, games, and stories that teach children to interact, and children are given plenty of time to play and pretend together. In an educational environment, a child learns to express emotions and cope with feelings.
• Learning to cooperate with others is important. At preschool, children have many opportunities to learn how to share and cooperate. This is especially important for only children, who don’t have siblings at home to help them learn to interact with others. Cooperation is a crucial life skill, and developing it early in life is beneficial.
• Early childhood education nurtures the whole child. In preschool, children learn through play. Rather than strictly focusing on academics, teachers who are trained to work with young children take a holistic approach to child development, understanding that a child’s emotional, social, mental, and physical wellbeing are just as important as academic success. Children are given opportunities to be physically active, engage in creative pursuits like art, making music, and dancing, and to engage in creative play, which helps nurture emotional and social skills. When children engage in supervised play, they’re learning important life skills.
• Learning experiences in early life promote a life-long love of learning. Preschool is educational, but it’s also fun! When children are prepared for school through interesting and exciting activities, they’re excited to go to preschool every day, and hungry to learn more. They have access to music, art, toys, and experiences that aren’t available at home, their natural curiosity is encouraged and nurtured, and they develop a love of learning that can last a lifetime.
• The experience of education teaches a child to understand its value. When parents place a child in a preschool program, they are sending the message that education is important. As kids gain new experiences and skills, they learn to value education for themselves.
• Respect is developed in an educational environment. Learning to interact with others in a polite way teaches kids respect, and this translates to more than respect for others. Children in preschool learn to value other people and their belongings, but they also learn respect for their environment, both on a local and global scale.
• Children learn to work as a team in preschool. Just as they learn to respect others and successfully interact, children in preschool learn to work together and help each other. The basic principles of teamwork include respect for the opinions of other people, listening skills, cooperation, and a mentality of equality. Learning these concepts at a young age will help kids be more successful throughout their lifetimes, from school through their careers.
• Challenging scenarios in preschool help children develop resilience. Resilience is one of the most important qualities a person can have when facing the challenges of life. When children are guided by teachers through different experiences, like bumps, bruises, conflict, and sometimes losing at games, they learn coping skills. The consistent, secure environment of an early education facility gives kids a safe space to become strong, flexible people.
• Developing brains benefit from early childhood education. The activities children participate in while at preschool help them develop skills like analysis and logical reasoning. Early childhood education prepares kids for math and reading, and exposes them to STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and math). Children are given interesting activities that help them learn and grow, and they’re encouraged to ask critical questions like “why”, “how”, and “what.” The curriculum at preschool helps children develop a longer attention span, encouraging them to focus on one thing at a time. Learning patience and focus helps children succeed in school and beyond.
• Early education builds a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Positive interactions with peers and teachers are rewarding for a child, and help them develop a positive self-concept. Encouraged to pursue their interests and explore their own skills, children become more confident and secure. Building a child’s confidence and self-esteem is a great way to prepare them for future success.
• Exposure to diversity in early childhood development promotes tolerance and acceptance. Little children need the opportunity to interact with people who are not in their families, and may be very different from them. When they’re exposed to diversity in terms of class, race, religion, and socioeconomic status, children learn to accept differences and understand that everyone is special and unique. Gaining a better understanding of people whose beliefs, culture, and ethnicity may be unfamiliar is beneficial in a child’s development and helps the child grow into a well-rounded member of society.

Early education is important, and finding the right preschool is the first step in providing a meaningful experience for your child. When you’re looking for high quality childcare, trust Just Children to care for your little ones. Founded in 1983, our family-owned, fully-licensed centers provide a unique learning environment where we help children build the skills they need to succeed in life. Our year-round programs in Bucks County, Philadelphia, and New Jersey are convenient for working parents, and we design every program with age-appropriate activities that allow kids to learn, grow, and explore. We’re dedicated to creating a worry-free experience for parents while enriching the lives of children and providing a safe, nurturing environment with the highest standards of care, creativity, and learning. Visit our website to find a location convenient to you, or contact us to ask questions or schedule a tour.