Early childhood education provides children ages five and younger with the chance to learn and grow while preparing for kindergarten and further education. There are programs set up throughout the United States that are designed to work on basic skills and improve cognition, behavior and interpersonal communication among children of this age group.
History
The first early childhood education in the United States began in the mid-1800s in a private home, and was known as kindergarten. In the mid-1960s, Head Start programs began to spring up throughout the country. Pre-K, or preschool, has also become very popular in the U.S., and encompasses programs throughout the nation that are geared toward preparing children for elementary school.
Considerations
Early childhood education is the building block for further education. These programs begin with the basics, and help children to discover learning about numbers, colors and letters. ECE helps children prepare and grow toward the future. Because of a rise in standards of living, changes in family structure and increased awareness, the need for early education programs has grown throughout the United States.
Benefits
A comprehensive study done by RAND researchers found that out of 20 early childhood education programs, 19 demonstrated benefits in several areas including: cognition and academic achievement; behavioral and emotional competency; educational progression and attainment; and overall health. These programs benefit children by helping them begin to think logically and understand social norms for behavior. As a child is learning, he begins to develop key concepts that can be applied to future educational goals.
Initiatives
The initiative of early childhood education is to "provide the support that our youngest children need to prepare to succeed later in school," according to the U.S. Department of Education. The department is also committed to providing a set of comprehensive support systems that will encourage children from birth to five years old to grow and develop educationally.
Expert Insight
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, the number of children ages three to four attending an early childhood education center of any kind continues to rise. A study done between 1991 and 1999 showed an increase from 61 percent to 68 percent of three-year-olds attending any type of program, with an increase of 10 percent in four-year-olds. This number continues to rise as more pre-K programs become available.
Final Thought
Early childhood education offers children who are preparing for kindergarten the chance to interact with others their own age and to learn things that will increase their understanding of more complex topics and material as they go through school.
