The Importance of Early Childhood Education in Australia

25 February 2022

A lifelong love of learning does not happen by chance and is encouraged by experiences at an early age. Early childhood education programmes set the stage for your child to become a lifelong learner by taking advantage of their natural curiosity. Here are a few reasons why an investment in an early childhood education program sets your child up for success.

 

1. Develop Social Skills

Even if your child has siblings, having experiences with other children outside of the home contributes to social growth. In an early childhood educational setting, they can use important skills like listening, taking turns, and sharing. They learn these important skills through songs, games, and opportunities to interact and play with others.

 

2. Academic Skills

Academic achievement depends on having the prerequisites needed for learning. Early childhood education programmes show a direct correlation with academic achievement that extends beyond the elementary years. Preschool sets the child up for success by giving them the skills needed before they enter the formal school setting. This reduces the chance that they will struggle and gets them ready to learn, which increases their confidence.

 

3. Improved Confidence and Self-Esteem

The first day of school, or any new experience, can be scary for some children. An early education programme exposes them to new experiences and teaches them important coping skills that they can apply to other situations throughout their life. This helps build confidence and self-esteem in a positive and loving environment. It also helps build trust in themselves and others.

 

4. Better Attention Span

Improving a child’s attention span is a challenge for many parents and educators. Although some children face difficulties in this area, many times, it is simply a matter of a muscle that must be exercised. Early childhood education programmes help children develop the ability to concentrate for longer periods of time, which is a skill that they can use for the rest of their life. Early childhood education programmes also reduce the amount of screen time to which younger children are exposed.

 

5. Exposure to Diversity

Children that attend early education programmes are exposed to a greater amount of diversity. They have a chance to interact with peers who are like them and others who are different. This exposure to others helps build caring individuals that have a better understanding of others and prepares them for an increasingly global society.

Gower Street Kindergarten Centre in Preston provides enrichment experiences and early education to help your child get off to a good start. We incorporate play-based learning and provide a welcoming atmosphere to help your child grow. We celebrate diversity and have programmes for children starting from three years old. Our staff is caring and loves to help your child explore and learn.