Early childhood education programs are of great help in augmenting a child's all-round growth. They cater to every need of the child's development, including emotional, social, cognitive, and physical. Such programs will set up the child to manage all future life instances by laying a solid foundation early on.
However, all such programs are not made equally, and your child might not benefit from it simply because it’s not tailored to suit their needs. Some features are commonly required to be had by every program as they are universal, and others are unique. Knowing your child well means knowing what features to expect from their early childhood education programs.
Child-centric Course
It is easy for teachers to get misled by their enthusiasm or other reasons for forgetting that the program is about the children in it and not them. The program must put the child in the front and centre, and have all the necessary materials and methods. Children will quickly lose interest if it is just a teacher talking continuously about a topic.
Instead, the program must teach things that go along with the child's natural behaviour. There must be plenty of colours, child-friendly music, games, rhymes, etc. The children must be led to explore themselves instead of being told how to do what. The staff must also be adept at this kind of teaching.
Soothing and Conducive Environment
Children are very sensitive to the things going on around them. They, in fact, rely on them to learn their way through life. Being set-up in a relaxing, positive, and fun environment is a critical factor in aiding their all-rounded growth.
The program’s premises must be in a location that meets those criteria. The teaching equipment and related material must be child-friendly, such that they entice the children to use them to explore various learning aspects. The teaching and non-teaching staff must be gentle in interacting with the children, and not cause undue stress or worse harm.
Soft Training of Hard Skills
Early childhood programs focus on improving the child's memory, mathematical, reasoning, linguistic, literacy, comprehension, etc. Small children don't learn these skills the way their older counterparts do. The marker and whiteboard will have to be replaced, or at least augmented, with flashcards, songs, games, and other methods and material to aid the child's learning them in its way.
Strict grading and negative reinforcement to improve performance will only hamper the child's growth and confidence. Parents may also need to be involved in helping the child, especially if they have special needs.
Outdoor Activities
Not everything can be learned in a classroom setting. Stepping out and enjoying being amid their peers is crucial for children to develop well. It helps them physically, socially, and mentally.
They will learn things practically and also get to interact with the local ecosystem. They must be aided in their endeavours with fun activities and safe equipment for the same. Children are the future of our world. Early childhood education programs need to be a world where they and their parents want to build their futures.
