Getting To Know Your International Contacts Part 3

This week as an alternative assignment, we were asked to view a website through UNESCO’S Early Childhood Education. The importance of this website is to look closely into the professional field of Early Educators, as well as defining the role of quality care for children.

Research shows the most critical period for children’s brain development occurs between the birth to eight years of age http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/.

In order for children to receive quality care, and a curriculum that will help facilitate all of their developmental needs, professionals need to have access to effective trainings, funding to support or continue their education, and workshops that will continue to keep professionals current on licensing regulations, and best practice policies.

In this week’s reading resource it states that “The ECCE workforce is often made up of a diverse group of pre-school teachers, care workers, informal careers and other professionals. Adequate training and work conditions are essential so they can integrate the content and practice of early childhood care and education and address the transition to formal schooling” http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/quality/.

To ensure we are meeting the needs of all children, there needs to be a partnership between home, school, and community, that also emphasis’s the importance of play and hands on experiences, in preparation to primary education.

Research shows that, “  Active involvement from parents and communities and relevant play and learning materials ensure that early childhood services remain relevant to the needs of the children and all other stakeholders and increases sustainability” http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/quality/.

Further into the reading article, another interesting fact was the issue of funding, and providing quality care for children coming from lower income homes, and continuing to provide a holistic approach to learning, that will meet all sectors of diverse communities. Preserving natural environments, and providing professionals with the proper tools to help children become successful, is a huge key to children staying abroad their social, and cognitive development, and help to reduce the large gap of low academic achievement across the board.

Reference:

 Early Childhood care and Education. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/access-and-equity/.