Selasa, 24 Oktober 2017

Early Childhood Education Training - Developing the Youth of Tomorrow

The early stages of childhood are a vital developmental stage for all children, with respect to their intellectual, emotional and social growth. From birth to the age of six, the expansion of physical and mental abilities progresses at astonishing speed, with a surmountable level of learning occurring during this life stage. This is a period in a child's life where education, care and quality learning experiences are required to encourage further growth and development.

From the moment a newborn enters the world, the learning process begins, and one which will not end until time itself. The growing provision of kindergarten and pre-school facilities are a testament to the growing emphasis being placed on early childhood education. Research has shown that positive early learning experiences correlate with positive social, emotional and intellectual development which greatly impacts upon the future direction and capabilities of children.

Even though parents are the biggest educational influence in the first few years, busy lifestyles, economic pressures and time constraints have created a society that is increasingly reliant on pre-school facilities - not only to provide quality care services for their children, but to provide early childhood education to stimulate healthy development and growth.

Play is a very important process within child development, where fun is experienced with the combination of learning. It is considered an essential component of an early childhood education as many relationship and social skills are developed, along with motor and coordination aptitudes. The use of toys to build or create something is often termed constructive play. These usually include the use of building blocks, puzzles and the like. Pretend play allows children to express themselves, often projecting themselves as something they are not. As well as honing social and language skills, the development of a rich imagination should be encouraged.

The importance of family will drive parents to inspect a number of early childhood educational facilities before a final decision is made. A comfortable, warm and pleasant environment is always attractive, but more and more emphasis is being placed on the quality of the staff. Parents will search for pre-school facilities with staff that are suitably educated and experienced in leading small groups of children, have a solid background in early childhood education training and vocational studies, with staff that can provide a rich, interesting and safe learning environment.

Being involved in the education and learning stages of children can be one of the most rewarding careers. However, with the increasing pressure on educational facilities to regulate staff based on qualifications, a future in this industry requires the successful completion of an early childhood education training programme. Ring for a prospectus from a leading tertiary education provider today and shape the youth of tomorrow.


Senin, 09 Oktober 2017

Understanding The Concept of Early Childhood Education

The concept of early childhood education typically applies to the pre-elementary school years when parents are interested in putting their children in a kindergarten or preschool program. Many parents currently believe that the earlier a child's education gets started, the more successful they are going to be later on in life. Today, parents are fortunate to have a number of options at their disposal besides public preschool including the Head Start, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf programs.

Public preschool

The public preschool form of early childhood education has gained in popularity in recent decades throughout the US and are typically state-funded. These programs were primarily designed for low-income families and will provide an education to any child residing in that particular school district. The availability will vary from one state to the next and then from district to district.

Head Start

Federal money is the funding source for the many Head Start programs located throughout the US. These are geared to those families who have children under 5 years of age and who are at a lower level of income. There are also what are referred to as Early Head Start programs that focus on children who are between zero and three years of age as well as pregnant women. Additionally, children who have medical or psychological conditions and are receiving public assistance are usually eligible for a Head Start program.

Montessori Schools

These early childhood education programs focus on those children that are between three and six years of age. Some of them even feature toddler-oriented programs while others offer programs for infants. Children in these programs experience a hands-on learning experience as they are directed through a series of educational materials. The teachers of these facilities are typically referred to as "directresses" since they direct children through specific activities instead of just teaching them in standard fashion.

Reggio Emilia approach

As this name would seem to imply, this early childhood education program has Italian roots just like the Montessori schools. In the Reggio Emilia approach, the learning process is collaborated by the children, parents, and teachers in the school. If the child shows an interest in a particular activity, they will be provided with ample opportunities to learn a curriculum that feeds that particular interest. Parents are encouraged to participate in the child's curriculum and are given educational materials to help them do so.

Waldorf Early Childhood Program

In these early childhood education programs, the teacher engages in artistic, domestic, and practical activities and encourages the children in their class to imitate them. The teacher also encourages them to use there imagination during dramatic play and storytelling. The toys that are used in Waldorf programs are manufactured using only natural materials.

Children will also bring nature items that they are interested in so they can explore them and play with them in class. The Waldorf curriculum is based on three child development age groups - birth to age 7, 7 years to 14 years, and 14 years to 18 years of age.