Education transforms lives, breaks the cycle of poverty and improves a child’s health and wellbeing. But for too many children, the opportunity to learn – their fundamental right – is out of reach.
Kids develop a broad understanding of the world through their experiences at school, including scientific concepts like reversibility and water turning to ice. They also practice self-control and logical thinking.
Language and Literacy
Language and literacy are essential for children to communicate, learn, and express themselves. They are also the basis for academic success, and poor literacy can lead to low self-esteem, behavioral problems and isolation.
Infants and toddlers explore their environment through language: listening to stories read aloud, singing songs and rhymes, and playing games that involve rhyming or phonemic awareness (the ability to identify and manipulate the sounds of a language).
When a child learns to read well, they expand their general knowledge, become more independent, and are able to keep up with classmates. But children who struggle to read can often develop negative attitudes about reading and school, leading them to dislike learning in general. Children who have poor literacy skills throughout their lives are more likely to have low self-esteem, behavioral issues, and drop out of high school.
Thinking Skills
Children are naturally curious and ask questions about the world around them. Getting them to question and think critically about their experiences is crucial to their future success as adults, particularly in a society full of misinformation and fake news.
Children who can think independently will be able to resist peer pressure, form their own opinions and trust their own judgement when asked to do something they don’t want to do. They will also be able to solve problems more effectively and apply their knowledge to new situations.
Help your child develop critical thinking skills by asking open-ended questions and encouraging them to play games that require trial and error, such as building with blocks or tangrams. You can also discuss philosophical topics with them or provide opportunities for discussion on a deeper level through family discussions, such as playing board games together.
Social Development
In order for children to learn well and develop their potential, they need good relationships with parents and other adults. They also need to be able to express and regulate emotions and interact with the world around them.
Interaction is the key to social development, according to Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development. This includes both active and passive forms of socialization. During the pre-school years, social skills are developed through active interaction with peers. This includes developing interpersonal sensitivity, empathy and thinking of others’ needs when solving problems.
Kids should be encouraged to develop their interpersonal capabilities through group activities and games, such as role playing or storytelling. This enables them to take on other perspectives and become better equipped to handle various social scenarios in the future.
Emotional Development
A child’s ability to understand and express emotions is a key aspect of social-emotional development. Children who lack strong emotional skills have a more difficult time paying attention, working with others and overcoming challenges.
Emotional self-regulation begins at birth. Infants and toddlers learn how to calm down, read their caregivers’ facial expressions and understand the consequences of their actions.
School-age children are able to articulate how they feel and have a stronger understanding of how their feelings affect other people. They also learn to recognize other people’s emotions and develop empathy and prosocial behaviors.
Caregivers can help children with emotional development by recognizing and responding to their needs, fostering relationships and providing consistent routines. They can also encourage healthy emotional development by promoting the eco-biological model of development, which highlights how a child’s environment and biology impact their social and emotional growth.
Physical Development
Children need healthy, active bodies to be ready for learning. Physical development includes gross motor skills like walking, running, jumping and climbing as well as fine motor skills such as using a pencil, picking up small objects and cutting with scissors.
Children learn best when they can move their fingers and toes on their own, but every child develops at their own pace. They reach developmental milestones, such as crawling, walking and sitting up on their own.
UNESCO works to promote early childhood care and education (ECCE) as a crucial foundation for learning and development and as a way out of poverty. During times of crisis, children’s opportunities to learn are disrupted as school and other services that provide education, health and social protection for young children are closed.