THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EARLY START

“The most important period of life is not the age of University studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. At no other age has the child greater need for an intelligent help, and any obstacle that impedes his creative work will lessen the chance he has of achieving perfection. ” Since Dr. Maria Montessori wrote these words, research has shown the importance of early years Research by early childhood educationists and psychologists reveal how much a child can, wants and needs to learn before he enters Primary School.

TODAY’S CONCEPT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

We used to assume that the first six year of a child’s life was a time for fun and physical growth. We preferred not to “educate” a child until he was of school age. “Let the kid alone. He’ll never have it so good again for the rest of his life” was a familiar refrain that typified yesterday’s philosophy of early childhood.

We weren’t completely wrong that play is the most important aspect of a child’s life, but we weren’t completely right either. We thought that play and education were opposite things. Now we know better that play is learning. Play is one of the most effective kinds of leaning known. During the early years a child learns more-faster than at any other time in his life.

Some psychologists have estimated that by the age of five, a child’s intelligence quotient (IQ) is basically established. They say that by this age attitude towards learning and patterns of thinking have settled into one’s mind, and that these same attitudes and patterns guide a person’s thoughts for the rest of his life. Hence, the concept of early childhood as merely a time for fun and physical growth is outdated and inadequate. We now know that early childhood years are exciting and powerful years for building the foundations of human intelligence.