by PRP Group, on 12/04/2023
After more than 20 years as an early childhood educator and seven years as a trainer and coach for early childhood teachers, I became frustrated with the fact that many people regarded those first years of education as merely a babysitting service. What others saw as children “just playing,” I understood as true learning.
Fortunately, I feel that attitude has become less prevalent as more people recognize those early years as critical. Decades of research, including the landmark Perry Preschool Study, provide data on the long-term benefits of high-quality early education. These benefits include being more likely to graduate from high school, committing fewer crimes, holding a job, and gaining higher incomes.
One important area of early childhood education that is easily overlooked is the classroom itself. According to the Reggio Emelia approach, the environment is the “third teacher.” This idea refers to creating an early childhood environment that is purposeful and intentional, so it supports children’s learning as much as their parents and teachers do.