The first six years of a child’s life are globally acknowledged as being the most critical years for lifelong development, since the pace of development during these years is extremely rapid.
Recent research in the field of neuroscience, particularly of the brain, has provided very convincing evidence of ‘critical periods’ located within these early years for some specific competencies, which are of importance for life-long learning and development in this context the early experiences of children and the stimulation they receive are very important for the forming of synaptic connections in the brain in these early years and for the full development of the brain’s potential.
Mr. Robin Roberts, Innovation Leader, GEMS Education, Dubai, regarding the same, he said,” In the last 10 years, we have learned more about the human brain than in any of the previous centuries combined. Brain Mapping and Brain Scanning technologies are now Information Technologies. We are learning massive amount of things about how the brain work, at every age and most importantly, it’s impact on the field of Education.”
History of Early Childhood Education
Universal early childhood education in India is a relatively recent development. Throughout the history of India, formal education was limited to only male members of the high caste groups. Mass illiteracy among children of low caste families and female children has had a cumulative effect of unequal distribution of educational opportunities among the population.
The preschool sector in India poses great opportunities, but at the same time there are the challenges too. There are Leaders from Preschool discussing on various opportunities and challenges in Preschool in India.
Experts speak on the Childhood Education in India
Sharing her experience in the childhood space, Dr. Anita Madan, Head Content, Euro Kids, said,” Working in the childhood space, we have come across many questions from the parents that demanded our attention like what is the right age, which school should we prefer, and why does a child need a play school
“We believe that early childhood learning starts between 0-8 years. It is majorly what the child learns during this time span and at this age, the entire emphasis is on the child, be it socially, emotionally, intellectual development. The brain is the most deceptive, and a child learns the most during this age”, said the Content Head of Euro Kids.
She further stressed the importance of play and learning at the same time and remarked,” There is continuous learning happening from 0-8 years. It is not play versus learning but play and learning jointly because children learn only through play. The first opportunity that a child gets to discover the world that he is living in. He gets socially connected to its peers, finds out from playing about the social development. They learn in the environment that we give them.
Providing the right environment is our job along with the right exposure and the experiences that they need which is only possible through the environment that we give them, said Ms. Madan.
The Associate Professor, Center for Early Childhood Education of Development, Ambedkar University Delhi, Dr. Sunita Singh said,” We know from evidence of neuroscience that early childhood is a critical year for learning and development to know how children grow up in the later years. Learning cannot happen by itself and an effort has to be made.”
