With the focus of the American education discussion pivoting around K-12 education, many parents of young children are often left wondering how they can help their child prepare for Kindergarten and lifelong learning.
Lost in the talk of graduation and drop-out rates in school age children, pre-k kids have taken the back seat in policy considerations. But research has begun to indicate that early childhood education, especially before the age of 6, is one of the best ways to ensure that children succeed in future academic endeavors.
What is Early Childhood Education?
Early Childhood education involves the education of young children from the infant toddler stage to the age of eight. There are many different theories of early education and child development, but all of them consider early education of some form to be essential to child development.
What are the Benefits of Early Education?
Early education in a preschool, daycare or other childcare setting has a number of statistically backed benefits on child development. And according to a report from the Connecticut Early Childhood Planning Team, early childhood education is an important element in preparing children for grade school classrooms, lowering their risk for psycho-social and emotional mental health problems and increasing self-sufficiency in the future as adults.
Other studies have shown that children involved and learning in early education programs have IQ’s 4 to 11 points higher than children who did not receive the learning and cognitive benefits of an early childhood education program.
Further and more comprehensive studies have shown that not only do children exhibit immediate benefits of early education in the form of elevated IQ scores, they are more likely to attend college and have a much lower high school dropout rate than children who were not involved in any early childhood education curriculum.
Also, early education intervention programs have shown to close the performance gap between children from low and high income households.
Where to Start with Early Education
Early childhood education starts at home. One of the most highly recommended ways to launch your child to successful life-long learning is to read to them. Experts recommend that you start reading aloud to your child as soon as you can, even newborns! Children who are read to at a young age, even if they can’t yet talk, walk or even crawl have less difficulty learning to read in the future.
Outside of the home, early childhood education involves enrolling your child in a daycare education program or preschool.
Early Childhood Education at Toddler Town
Toddler Town is devoted to providing your child quality early childhood education at both our Evanston and Chicago locations. We have programs for every child developmental stage from 2 years old to kindergarten. Our professional and friendly staff receives 20 hours of annual early childcare education training.
Toddler Town has received the prestigious NAEYC accreditation for both of its childcare locations and the Gold Level Circle of Quality from Excelrate Illinois. Come check out our amazing programs and curriculum at our Evanston and Chicago locations today!
