Children’s education is important for many reasons. It helps them grow as individuals and allows them to become confident in their own abilities. It also teaches them how to work with people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and ages.
Access to education is a fundamental human right for all. UNICEF works with partners worldwide to ensure that children can exercise their right to quality learning opportunities.
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
ECE encompasses a wide range of formal and informal educational programs that guide children from birth to age five. These programs help develop a child’s linguistic, social, and emotional skills during a critical time for brain development. They can be provided in a variety of settings, including daycare centers, head start programs, and preschools.
High-quality ECE has been shown to have a number of benefits, including improved school readiness and narrowing achievement gaps for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It also helps children gain the social and emotional skills necessary to be successful in life.
A career in ECE can offer a flexible and rewarding work experience. According to research by Nobel laureate economist James Heckman, children who attend quality ECE programs are less likely to require remedial education or special services later in life and have a greater chance of becoming productive workers, contributing to a stronger economy for everyone. If you’re interested in learning more about the early childhood education field, check out UMass Global’s flexible and affordable bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Montessori
The Montessori method is based on the idea that children are naturally eager to learn. This approach to education prioritizes respect for the child and requires educators to allow students to engage in learning independently, without imposing their own agenda.
Montessori classrooms are carefully crafted environments designed to meet the unique needs of children within a particular age range. Guided by a trained Montessori educator, called a Directress, children engage in experiential learning with sensory materials that translate abstract concepts into concrete understanding. These classes are typically multi-age, allowing older students to model skills for their younger peers.
As a result, kids develop an intrinsic desire to learn, making them lifelong learners. They’re also taught to respect and care for their environment and the people around them, developing strong character and a sense of responsibility. This self-motivation is a cornerstone of the Montessori curriculum and helps prepare kids for a successful future. Lastly, they’re introduced to cultural exercises that teach them about the world outside of their classroom and home, which encourages compassion for others.
The Grandma Method
Jill VandeHey Klefstad is working on a book about grandparents, teachers and parents who are nurturing children’s brains through everyday activities. Her goal is to teach people how they can encourage the natural learning of their granddarlings at any age or stage. In this blog series, she will share a theme page of simple activities each month to give you the What and the Why so that you can implement these ideas in your own home with your grandchildren.
Montessori environments are child-centered and based on self-directed exploration and hands-on learning. They are also orderly and contain natural materials. Montessori emphasizes respect and empathy in interactions with children. It also teaches conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Mitra’s hole-in-the-wall experiments led to his next project, the Granny Cloud. His experiment aimed to see if children could learn advanced material on their own, with only a Skype connection and remote support from British grandmothers. Mitra’s hypothesis was that if children are allowed to learn on their own, they won’t need the traditional education model that has traditionally relied on adults to educate them.
Prisma’s Early Years Program
Prisma offers a unique online learning experience that allows learners to learn in their local community with a close-knit cohort, while still joining a global learning network. They also have an extensive afterschool program focusing on foreign languages, arts and culture with an emphasis on meaningful play. They are a part of the Reggio Emilia, Inquiry and Constructivist philosophies with hands on instruction. Their teachers are fluent in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin.
While men are significantly underrepresented in ECEC careers, strategies to increase their representation should focus on addressing occupational gender segregation, dismantling gender stereotypes, fostering caring masculinities in childhood, and engaging organizational gatekeepers. These approaches can reduce tokenism, while increasing the representation of men in ECEC without affecting women’s career choices. They can also help prevent the feminization of ECEC work. The goal is to create a more equitable, diverse and sustainable workforce.