Childcare? No. Early Childhood Education? Yes!
Early childhood education should not be merely labeled as “childcare” because it encompasses much more than just providing a safe environment for children while their parents are at work. It is fundamentally about brain development and laying the foundation for lifelong learning and success.
“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.”
— Chinese Proverb
From birth to age three, a child’s brain undergoes rapid growth, forming over a million neural connections per second. By age five, the brain reaches 90% of its adult size. High-quality early childhood education programs are crucial during this period, as they significantly enhance cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and achieve better economic outcomes. These programs also yield substantial economic returns, with every dollar invested generating a $6.30 return by reducing future costs related to education, health, and social services.
Children who receive early childhood education are 25% more likely to graduate high school and four times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree. They’re also less likely to face academic problems, including repeating grades. Once these children do graduate, they tend to earn more in the workforce.
Early Childhood expert, Dan Wouri, says this, “As parents well know, babies don’t come with instruction manuals. And while parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, decades of evidence show that professional educators play a crucial role in the development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Their expertise and experience makes them an essential resource for parents.”
Wuori asserts that vision has never captured the vital teaching and learning that takes place inside what people have typically called “daycare” or “child care” programs. “The problem with both of those terms in my mind is that they center care. The care in those settings is necessary, but not sufficient,” Wuori said. “This is you selecting who is going to co-construct your child’s brain. This is not babysitting while you go to the movies.”
In summary, early childhood education is an essential investment in the future, benefiting not only the children and their families but also the broader community and economy. It should be recognized for its critical role in fostering development and not just as a form of childcare.
The Children’s Center is an early childhood education center whose mission is to ensure families can afford high-quality services and whose children graduate prepared to enter formal education with the skills necessary for success.
