Early Childhood Education – Pros and Cons Every Parent Must Know

UNESCO in the year 2000 coined the term Early Childhood Education. It refers to all learning programmes crafted with newborn babies till age eight (8) in mind. Over the years, the schooling age in many countries has been pegged at age 6.

Hence Pre Schools, Early childhood school, Montessori, and nursery school have become synonymous with Early Childhood Education schools globally. Today, these schools concentrate more on children below six years since Kindergarten has become the minimum class for schooling in many countries.

With the changing trends in education and the new corporate mother caption and duties, many mothers spend fewer weeks or fewer months at home nursing their babies. Every one of these mothers’ eye a preschool for their child ahead of weaning off breastfeeding.

Early Childhood Education schools came to fill an important void in ensuring children below age six are not left at home with mere caregivers, but with educational institutions where the child receives an education while being cared for.

Today, many schools in developed and developing countries have been established to provide this essential Early Childhood Education to children who would usually not qualify to be in school.

Pros and Cons for parents of Early Childhood Education

Preschools are easy to locate in recent times in nearly every city, and their presences have solved a lot of problems for corporate mothers.

Nearly all families that need to be engaged at work or take care of the other important duties during the day have opted for preschool enrolment for their children. However, have we examined the negative implications of such decisions on the family and the children as well.

Let us take a careful look at the advantages and disadvantages of Early Childhood Education on the learner or child.

Disadvantages of Early Childhood Education on Children

#1 Loses the needed strong connection with mother

Young children in early childhood schools may lose the needed powerful connection with the mother at an early age.

This can have emotional and psychological implications for young kids.

Have you wondered why some kids cry nearly every morning before they are dropped at school? Think about it.

When children are separated from their mothers at an early age, they suffer separation anxiety and their parents also do. 

This can develop into a disorder if not managed well, leading to greater distress for the child.

The fear of being left in the care of another person every morning can trigger crying the entire day among some children. 

#2 Use of improper technology, terms and words in teaching young minds

Sometimes, educators at this level use improper technology, terms and words in teaching young minds.

This has the tendency to confuse learners who may be learning to talk and work on their speech. Such words may misguide learners at an early age. 

#3 Class size may be bigger than required for a teacher

Again, since these schools are often few, the class size may be bigger than required for a single teacher.

This leads to less attention per child. In the end, the child may suffer limited development of skills.

Teachers may get exhausted easily because of the number of children in the class.

The ideal class size for an effective preschool is 15. Anything above is a disadvantage for the young minds in the class. 

#4 Wrong curriculum for teaching and learning

Nursery schools or preschools do not have a curriculum for teaching and learning.

Schools, teachers, and caregivers may choose what they deem appropriate for the class.

Often the lessons and curriculums developed for the preschoolers may be higher than their level of understanding.

This is often the case because schools may put their own curriculum together without an expert in the field assessing its appropriateness.

You can imagine what that will do to a young mind. 

Children learn through different methods and approaches. Teacher quality, experience in the field, and other teacher characteristics can lead to the wrong choices regarding teaching methods for preschool learners and lessons.

The lack of good teaching and learning methods in a preschool will have negative side effects on children enrolled. 

Advantages of enrolling children for Preschool Education

#1 Learners develop survival skills

Learners develop survival skills such as being independent at an early age as they are left under the care of others and not the mother.

#2 Improve on their physical and mental development

Research has also proven that learners introduced to school at an early age at the preschool improve on their physical and mental development than those who spend more years at home. 

#3 Introduction to very innovative learning methods and environments

Again, the minds of these little boys and girls are introduced to very innovative learning methods and environments. Video/audio, Social Learning, Roleplay and other basic learning teaching methods are introduced to the child.

#4 Build strong social behaviours and interactions skills

Children below 6 years who are experiencing Early Childhood Education are able to build strong social behaviours and interactions skills. They get introduced to many people (children) from different homes at an early age. They learn skills to communicate and interact and leave or accommodate other people within their learning space. 

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By enrolling your ward in a preschool, he or she is at an advantage and would enjoy better brain training and development in the right manner at the right place than a child who only gets introduced to school at age 7. 

When parents enrol their younger children, they get enough time to attend to other important errands, work or access education themselves. 

#Develop higher IQ compared

Research has proven again that by enrolling your ward in Early Childhood Education, they develop higher IQ compared to children who are enrolled directly into the kindergarten with no prior preschool education. 

One school we recommend upon our research on the best Preschools to enrol your ward is Safari International Preschool – Airport Residential Area

CONCLUSION

The above shows that the early childhood development of a child is important for their future education and development needs. Enrolling children in Early Childhood education schools are not a bad idea after all. However, choosing the right school that has the needed skilled educators and resources plays an additional role in ensuring the preschool child benefits fully from the investment of the parents or sponsors. 

Source: Ghanaeducation.org