What Is Early Childhood Education? Career, Education & Salary Info!

Governing entities are also debating the central focus of early childhood education with debate on developmental appropriate play versus strong academic preparation curriculum in reading, writing, and math. The global priority placed on early childhood education is underscored with targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4. You will be introduced to the administrative knowledge and skills that are useful for early learning and care programs. You will study operating structures, policies, and procedures related to the administration of early learning and childcare programs, including indigenous early learning and childcare programs.

This course will introduce Indigenous philosophies that guide early childhood education. You will study the developmental milestones from conception through the stages of infancy, toddlerhood to age five. The course provides an introduction to the theories of learning and personality, brain development and methods of studying human behavior, including indigenous world views. You will learn about the effects of heredity and the environment, including culture, on the emotional, social, cognitive and physical development of children and behavior. You will learn about basic health, safety and behaviour as well as how to understand children's environments and early learning mechanisms.

Education & Human Services Majors

Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program. If you have a keen interest in childhood development and are interested in early childhood education as a career, here's what you need to know. Now that you understand the importance of ECD, this section digs deeper into the science, including how early experiences and relationships impact and shape the circuitry of the brain, and how exposure to toxic stress can weaken the architecture of the developing brain. This 3-minute video portrays how actions taken by parents, teachers, policymakers, and others can affect life outcomes for both the child and the surrounding community. Support our efforts to secure a bright future for young children, educators, and families. Gain inspiration for your practice as an early childhood educator with our high-quality, research-based books and resources.

What Will I Learn In A Masters In Early Childhood Education Program?

Although Vygotsky predated social constructivists, he is commonly classified as one. Social constructivists believe that an individual's cognitive system is a readitional learning time. Vygotsky advocated that teachers facilitate rather than direct student learning. Teachers should provide a learning environment where students can explore and develop their learning without direct instruction. It is important to do this because students' levels of interest and abilities will vary and there needs to be differentiation. Early childhood program administrators are responsible for a broad range of tasks, requiring many different competencies.47 First, programs need instructional leaders with a solid understanding of child development and teaching and learning strategies.

Expanding Early Childhood Education: How States And Districts Can Use Federal Recovery Funds Strategically

Aggregated assessment data can also be used to identify system-level patterns, strengths, and gaps that can inform equitable resource allocation and investments in early childhood and elementary programs and initiatives. Kindergarten entry assessments, when well designed and well used, have the potential to support high-quality equitable learning by guiding instruction and supporting whole child development. However, when poorly designed or misused they can foster poor teaching practices and exacerbate inequity.

Teaching young children requires nothing short of complete devotion and perseverance. It can be a daunting task, but to a truly committed teacher, it is worth the effort. During the first few years of life, a child learns a lot about themselves and the world around them, and parents are their first teachers. They teach them the alphabet, shapes and colors, and even how to count and spell very simple words. But for healthy development, children need active stimulation and interaction with others. It is in these classrooms where children apply what their parents have taught them to a practical setting and have their first interactions with people outside of their family.