The importance of childhood education

 

The brain of a newborn baby is roughly one-quarter the size of an adult brain. It will have doubled in size by the child's first birthday and will have completed 90% of its growth by the age of five. During early development, the brain forms millions of synapses per second. These brain connections allow us to move, think, communicate, and understand our surroundings. To suggest that this is a pivotal juncture in growth would be an understatement.

A substantial amount of evidence indicates that children's lives can benefit in the long run from participation in a top-notch early childhood education program. According to the National Education Association (NEA), studies indicate that youngsters who obtain a top-notch education prior to turning five benefit greatly in the medium- and long-term. Early childhood education program participants' children are: 

• Less likely to repeat a grade
• Less likely to be identified as having special needs
• More prepared academically for later grades
• More likely to graduate from high school
• More likely to be higher earnersin the workforce