Did you know that every child on Earth is born with the ability to speak a unique language? It isn’t a spoken language, but it’s rich with the potential for subtext, discovery, and even a little bit of magic.
It is the language of play.
Early childhood education professionals speak this language fluently and know how to use it to help young learners process and understand the world around them. They recognize that play is the work of children. It’s crucial to developing critical skills, from fine motor skills to mathematical reasoning.
Are you curious about what happens in an early childhood school classroom? Read on to learn all there is to know about teaching and learning in the early years.
What Is Early Childhood Education?
Early Childhood Education happens through play, but it’s about more than toys. Teachers and childcare workers seek to curate hands-on environments where children can safely practice developmentally appropriate skills.
Educators understand early childhood learning and development. They know how to sequence experiences so that each child can explore and develop understanding at their own pace. They seek to address the following developmental areas or “domains:”
- Social development
- Emotional development
- Physical development
- Cognitive development
- Language development
To thrive, children need to prepare their bodies and minds for the demands of the world around them. To write, children must first develop the small muscles in their hands. To read, children must recite poems and understand the sounds they hear in words.
A Christian child education program may also focus on moral development. Ideally, such a program will prepare children to walk softly in the world and treat others with compassion.
The Importance of Early Childhood Education
Studies have found that children enrolled in early childhood learning programs tend to see more success in school and beyond. The most successful children attend high-quality early childhood settings. These are schools that prioritize play-based learning across developmental domains.
Early Childhood Education and Brain Development
Young children’s brains are still in development. They quickly and easily form new synapses as they have meaningful educational experiences. The more child access a synaptic link, the more likely it is to remain for life.
It is much harder for humans to form new synapses as they age. Quality early childhood experiences form the physical foundations children need to become critical thinkers for life.
Encountering Others in Early Childhood
Ultimately, early childhood settings are also where children learn to coexist with others. It may be their first opportunity to encounter differences. It’s a safe place to make mistakes and develop a diverse, inclusive understanding of the world.
Experience Early Childhood Education in Action at Smoke Rise
Children are constantly learning and growing. Like flowers, they’re eager to soak in the goodness of the world around them. An excellent Early Childhood Education professional is like a gardener who can curate an environment where your little learner will blossom and thrive.
Smoke Rise Childcare and Preschool is eager to welcome your child into our family. We offer a home-like Christian environment where love is always the first thing on the curriculum.