Why Is Early Childhood Education Important?
When you think about education, you might think of kindergarten as the starting point. However, by the time your child is ready for kindergarten, 90% of their brain has already developed. Ninety percent!
The Foundation for All Future Learning
Did you know that when a baby is born, their brain is only a quarter the size of an adult brain? However, in just two short years, it grows to be three quarters of the size of its adult counterpart. How is this rapid growth possible? Well, throughout this time, a child’s brain is making over a million new neural connections each second! Every moment matters.
According to Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, “Early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. Just as a weak foundation compromises the quality and strength of a house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood.”
Early childhood education goes far beyond learning colors, numbers, and the alphabet. These topics, while very important, are all part of a larger core mission: laying the building blocks for a child’s future success and overall well-being.
What Are the Long-Term Benefits of Early Childhood Education?
It’s imperative that children have access to quality education – their ability to become successful learners and productive citizens depends on it.
Early childhood education programs help your child prepare for kindergarten, which sets the tone for the rest of their academic career and life in general.
Studies show that when kids take part in early childhood education programs, they are:
- Less likely to repeat a grade level
- More likely to graduate high school
- Higher earners in the workforce
In addition to amazing long-term results, an early childhood education center should also provide your child with a warm, loving “home away from home” where fun and play are encouraged!
How Can I Support My Child’s Education?
In these early stages of life, academics come in the form of play and social interaction, rather than through a pencil and paper. Every activity, whether it’s a game, song, outing, or even a mealtime, is a learning opportunity for your child.
What Can I Do at Home to Help My Child?
There are many things you can do at home to prepare your child for formal schooling, including:
Create healthy habits
- Nutritious diet
- Frequent physical activity
- Regular bedtime routine and sleep schedule
- Pediatric visits
Read books together
- Increase language input and vocabulary expansion
- Help them recognize letter and sound associations
- Develop social and emotional skills
- Promote a love of learning
- Facilitate discussions and make memories
Encourage play – with you, with friends, and independently
- Spark creativity and imagination
- Develop friendships
- Teach how to overcome challenges
Find learning opportunities
- Story time at the library
- Zoo and museum visits
- Enroll your child in an early childhood education program
Enroll in a Program With “Kindergarten Readiness” at the Forefront
One of the major benefits of participation in an early childhood education center is your child’s ability to get prepared for kindergarten alongside their peers who are learning and developing from a similar vantage point.
When seeking a high-quality early childhood education center, make sure that kindergarten readiness is a focal point in the curriculum.
Here at Kiddi Kollege in Kansas City, we’re thrilled to report that after a recent four-year study of four of our pre-K classes, 100% of our students tested “ready” for kindergarten!
Of those students, 81% tested at advanced levels, and of that group, two thirds had been Kiddi Kollege students since age two or younger. We are so proud of our students and their success!
Schedule a Tour at Kiddi Kollege
Since 1957, Kiddi Kollege has provided a safe place for children to grow to their fullest potential. Our early education programs are much more than day care. Each of our locations offer age-specific, stimulating learning environments for all students in our Kiddi Kollege family.
We have many locations throughout southern Kansas City, including Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park; we’d love to meet you! Schedule a tour today!