Early childhood education

Subject classification: this is an education resource.

Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. Early childhood is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling five years in most nations, though the U.S. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) instead defines 'early childhood' as before the age of eight.

According to UNESCO ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) Unit, Early childhood is defined as the period from birth to 8 years old. A time of remarkable brain development, these years lay the foundation for subsequent learning. Children in the Early Childhood Centers are usually between the ages of 3-5. Children between the ages of 3-5 have much different needs than that of school-age children. Children between the ages of 3-5 have not yet developed strong foundation of their Developmental areas. Early childhood education often focuses on children learning through play and hands on learning.

Developmental Areas are areas that focus of the whole growth and development of the child, developmental areas can be broken down into areas such as, Physical,Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Cognitive,Social and Emotional Each Developmental areas can be integrated by different Learning Areas.

A learning area is a type of play or Activity that can be used to satisfy a Developmental area. Learning areas include: Art The art area that inspires and expresses creativity through various crafts and mediums. Art can be used to make crafts and gifts for the child's portfolio or to be sent home. Do not scold the child for being Non realistic also it is ill advised to compare child's work to on another. Dramatic Play Dramatic play is an area of Fantasy or make believe play. Most of time this type of activity is use like role=playing or pretend play. Children will be given or select a role to play as, such as A nurse or cop for Community Helper. Home play items and various props and toys can be used. Language Language is the learning area that promotes speech, writing and literacy. Children can repeat trace and copy and write words. Also through language children can start basic letter and number and word recognition and repetition, and phonic development is key here. Math Math is used to promote number, shape, colour, pattern and spacial recognition. Math can also develop concepts such as measurement, growth, time, money, distance, weight, speed, and problem solving and also critical thinking. Music Music used to promote Auditory Discrimination, Speech, Creative, Cognitive skills. Children can be involved in not just singing but also learning to discriminate sounds, and developing speech by chanting mimicking and singing. Cognitive skills such as timing, rhythm, repetition, and patterns can be built up. Creative abilities such as singing and making up words, and playing with instruments, it can also promote positive Social interactions, and Positive self expression and confidence. Music is not limited to just songs and instruments, finger plays or poems can be also included. Science Science is the area in which promotes Cognitive areas such as match with measurements, timing, physics, critical thinking, cause and effect, same/different and also counting concepts along with health and nutrition based concepts. Cooking is also considered a science activity and concept. Sensory exploration and natural processes is part the science concept. Trough science children can start to learn about animals and life cycles an nature, along with weather and places. A developmental area can have more than 1 Learning area.

Physical Developmental area is the area that stimulates and Develops the Physical and active areas of a child. Another area of Physical is the actual physical growth of the child. Some Activities for Physical Development can include Tag, races, catching balls, hopscotch, parachute and balance beams. Learning Areas for Physical include Music, Dramatic Play, Gross motor and fine motor

Gross Motor development is the growth and development of the large muscles such as legs, trunk, and arms. Gross Motor development can also assist in developing balance, hand and eye coordination, and Physical skills. Activities such as catching a ball, hoping, running, stomping, rolling, and tossing items can be great for Gross Motor. earning Areas Music, Dramatic Play

Fine Motor development is the focus on small muscles such as hands and feet. Fine Motor can be used to develop hand strength, grasping abilities, self help skills, picking up and writing concepts. String beads, counting money, painting, typing, and dressing are activities that are good for Fine Motor. Learning Areas Art, Dramatic Play, Science and Music

Cognitive development focus on the child's intellectual needs. Cognitive concepts include Critical thinking, counting, cause and effect, time, distance, and problem solving skills and sensory development. Identifying numbers on a clock, doing puzzles, flashcards, name the person, and instrument, songs and doing science expirments and cooking are great for the cognitive areas. Learning Areas Music, Math, Science, Art. Language

Social Development focus on the child's social needs and skills. Concepts such as Cooperation, sharing, Talking, positive peer interaction and Developing positive relationships are some areas for the social development. Show and tell, bug under the rug, team games, puppets are activities for social. Learning Areas Music, Dramatic Play, Language, and Art

Emotional Development focus on the need the child emotionally. Concepts such as self identity, self confidence, empathy and emotional understanding of others, expressing emotions and positive habits and positive interaction and relationships with others are topics for the emotional development. Activities for Emotional development include puppets, self portraits, sharing, and group games. Learning Areas Music, Language, Art, Dramatic Play