During the toddler and preschool years, children’s brains rapidly grow and develop, immensely influenced by their environment, caregivers, and peers. During this time, placing your child in a quality early childhood education (ECE) program can have several positive benefits that ripple throughout their lives.
Researchers have concluded that children who attend early childhood education have improvements in “communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social skills.”
Quality ECE not only allows parents to continue to be part of the workforce, but it also allows children to grow in autonomy, develop social skills, and build their network of safe people and places.
Benefits Of ECE
Making friends and learning social skills: In preschool settings, Children learn how to make friends, share, and establish personal boundaries. They can also develop appropriate social skills, learn to use words for self-expression, and exercise self-control.
Building a foundation for learning: Sending your child to preschool sets the groundwork for them to love learning and recognize that learning can be fun. Quality ECE programs incorporate hands-on activities, learning through play, and teach lessons at appropriate developmental stages.
Develop independence: It can be difficult for children to leave their parents for a given time during the toddler and preschool years. ECE allows children to learn to function separately from their caregivers and establish their sense of autonomy. It also helps them create new routines and encourages independence in self-care.
Lifelong gains: The National Education Association has found that children who attend quality ECE programs are more successful in kindergarten, less likely to repeat a grade, more likely to graduate from high school, and earn higher incomes in the workforce.
Choosing High-Quality ECE
Although convenience, availability, and cost are undeniable factors in choosing a facility for ECE, there are other components to consider. Recognizing a program or facility that will give your child a good start to learning can be tricky. Below are a few things to look for when choosing a preschool:
Small Class Sizes: National standards are based on children’s ages and how many children per caregiver can be in a room. Make sure that the facility meets these requirements or preferably less. Having your child receive more individualized attention and care is especially important in the younger preschool years, when it may be the child’s first time being consistently away from parents.
Fun and encouraging environment: The curriculum, toys, classroom setup, and other spaces, along with the decor, should be inviting and enjoyable to children. Materials should be appropriately available for children to interact with and engage with.
Parental Involvement: Programs should communicate with parents daily, encourage family involvement in the child’s education, and respect the child’s family background. Teachers and staff should be willing to engage with parents and other providers.
Teamwork: School teachers and staff should be respectful to one another, share information and planning, and collaborate with other providers. If there is high turnover among employees or continuous miscommunications, consider these red flags.
Inclusion of disabilities: Programs and curriculum should be adapted to fit each child’s needs and abilities, and staff should be willing and able to meet children where they are developmentally.
Clean and safe: The building should have running water, electricity, and windows available as second exits. Flat surfaces and toys should be cleaned daily, and areas where food is prepared should meet state law requirements. Staff members should have access to cleaning supplies and disinfectants. Basic hygiene should be encouraged for staff members and the children attending.
Early childhood education can provide your child with their first positive educational experiences. This critical step should be taken with care, so don’t be afraid to ask many questions and explore different opportunities until you feel comfortable settling on a program you believe will work best for your child.