Many families are faced with the challenge of whether to send their children to childcare or keep them at home, and experience the guilt that can be attached to making such a decision.
As an Educator who’s been working in the sector for 10 years, I have seen the benefits firsthand for children attending care in high quality settings
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently spoke to ABC Radio on universal childcare, saying, “It’s not just child minding. We know that the human brain development, a lot of it occurs in the first five years.”
Opportunities for growth
Children who attend early education and care have the benefit of exposure to tailored curriculums that support them to become independent thinkers, enabling exploration of new concepts and ways of being. We see this when young children can express their sense of delight when they discover things in a way that may be different to what they have been exposed to at home.
Children who attend high quality early education and care programs have demonstrated increased cognitive and social development, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities and emotional intelligence. These children exhibit improved language, maths and social skills, which are essential for academic success in later years when they attend formal schooling.
It takes a village
As Educators, we understand the importance of families being the child’s first teachers. Families provide children with a critical foundation: learning to understand the world around them. The flipside to this can be that children are only exposed to one way of thinking and doing, limiting their capabilities.
Educators form close relationships with children and families, transferring knowledge of childhood development which has a significant positive effect on a child’s involvement and success in learning. Children thrive when families and Educators work together to explore the learning potential in everyday events, routines and play. By working together, we provide children with daily opportunities to learn, be active participants and unpack new knowledge.
Children have a love for learning
Children who attend an early childhood and education service build a network of secure relationships and develop confidence and respect while being valued for their ideas and contributions. They become increasingly able to recognise and respect feelings and positively interact with those around them.
Children have an innate desire to learn about themselves and make new connections outside of their households, fostering resilience and adaptability. Being part of a community of learners unlocks a new world for children, meaning they can challenge their own ways of thinking and doing, and work alongside and learning from their peers. The benefits and potential for children become endless.
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