Early Childhood

Early Childhood

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Institutional Affiliations

Early Childhood

The need for early childhood education has become of great importance not only to the children, but also to the parents who help those children to achieve their dreams. The most benefit of early childhood education is that, teaching young children provides them with learning skills that make them to grow socially as well as developmentally. It is true that children are growing and learning new things every day, and therefore the earlier the children start their education the better they gain more knowledge. Most parents have sacrificed a lot for their children so that they get the best education as they grow no matter how much income they earn. They believe that, their children have a chance of excelling in their own future. Therefore, the paper will elaborate more about early childhood in regards to education as well as, identifying the best practices for early childhood education.

Early childhood education provides children with enough knowledge which they may need for future success. As a result, more programs are needed to be established within the community because these will provide the children with the opportunity of gaining learning, development as well as social skills required for them to thrive in their own future. However, the programs offered should be successful in that, they should provide a safe and nurturing environment that will promote a social, physical and cognitive development. Research also shows that the benefit of early childhood education improves readiness to learn, early literacy, improves cognitive development as well as, decreasing the need for the remedial.

The purpose of education for children is to provide them with knowledge. It is evident that children who start their education at early age tend to perform well, since that is when they learn the most. However, these children should be encouraged so as to express themselves through verbal communication, pictures and art. Children usually learn through the manipulation of objects, and creative play. Hence, teachers should ensure that these children have enough space or playground that they can do various activities such as jumping, running, playing seek and hide games and many others. It is through group play and supportive teaching that helps children to grow physically fit, socially and emotionally. The group activities are of great benefit to the children because they teach the young children to live and play together. Conversely, independent and guided problem solving helps the children to gain greater independence since it is true that children need both independence and teamwork skills that enables them to become a well rounded person (Copple, & Bredekamp, 2004).

The contemporary curriculum approaches in early childhood education mainly stresses on the magnitude of making available to the young children so as to foster holistic development along with promoting positive attitudes. The approaches are also appropriate to life and learning of young children. It is therefore a recommendation for the early childhood teachers to ensure that they acquire enough knowledge which will be necessary for implementing and developing child centered curriculum practices which inherent and motivate the young ones desire of becoming engaged in their own learning. The rationale goals are to help the children to achieve intellectual growth and developing a positive self concept. This also would help the young children to enlarge their world of experience, ideas and people that will later help them in increasing the competence in dealing with social situations and emotional feelings.

Consequently, using constructive approach, most educators have been renowned to endorse children with active exchange between them and the environment. The activities in this case may include problem solving along with coming up with new ideas to foster the children learning while improving their thinking. Research shows that young children tend to be theory builders hence constructive approach to early childhood education will help in building a foundation of physical knowledge which later will help those children to become increasingly independent both morally and intellectually. The role of early childhood educator to engage in teaching approaches for the children in different occasions is said to be very vital. The direct approaches is said to fit best in classes giving the instructors instructions for problem to be solved. This is the best approach because it helps the instructors to get the child attention as well as getting to know what might be good or wrong (Copple, & Bredekamp, 2004).

Conclusion

It is evident that high quality education continues to generate long lasting benefits across the world. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECSADE) stated that the role of policy makers is to construct a comprehensive system of curriculum and programs. Therefore, combining the philosophies of direct instruction, and constructive approaches of early childhood education tend to help the children so as to make choices, reflect on what they learned, as well as, carrying out their ideas. The combined activities are important because they promote independence and initiative. Furthermore, children engaging in group activities and socializing during play time exercise their bodies during outdoor time.

References

Copple, & Bredekamp, (2004). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8 London: National Bureau of Economic Research.