I think one topic that needs to be added to the list of public health measures that impact a child’s development is early childhood education. Obviously this is important topic to me because I am studying early childhood education and I work in the early childhood education field.
I found some significant information about early childhood education from around the world. According to the OEDC (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development), governments around the world are realizing the importance of investing in a quality system of early childhood education. Most countries the OECD reviews make at least two years of free early childhood education a priority. Many countries make early childhood education a legal right. Countries such as Denmark, Finland and Sweden begin early childhood education at the age of 1. Belgium begins their program at the age of 2.5, and Italy begins their program at the age of 3. China children begin their three years of kindergarten at the age of 3.
The United States does not have a formal early childhood education system. Head Start is the only early childhood educational system that receives federal funding and only children who live below the poverty level qualify to attend. According to the OEDC only 36% of children who qualified for Head Start Services actually received services. For these reasons, early childhood education needs to become a priority in the United States.
Here are the links to my sources:
I really enjoyed reading your post and found the information very interesting. I like how the other countries begin early childhood education right away. It is very important to have children learning from the very beginning. Since children are like sponges at these ages, they can soak up the information they are learning at such a young age. It seems that in the US there are parents who begin educating their children at early ages on their own. I think there should be some programs available for early childhood education between the ages of 1-3 in the US.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with you on making early childhood a priority. I think it gives children a strong foundation of education for the rest of their lives. Great post.
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