Early Childhood Center Coming Soon
According to the University of Massachusetts,” Early childhood education is a term to describe formal and informal educational programs that guide the growth and development of children throughout their preschool years (birth to age five). Children at these ages are entirely dependent on their adult caregivers, including parents, daycare providers, babysitters, extended family members and teachers.
A newborn baby’s brain is about a quarter of the size of an adult brain. Incredibly, it will double in size by the child’s first birthday and will have completed 90 percent of its growth by age five. During the early childhood years, the brain is making millions of synapses every second. These neural connections allow us to move, think, communicate and comprehend the world around us. To say that this is a critical window of development is an understatement.
There is a large body of research that suggests a high-quality ECE program can have a positive long-term effect on the lives of children. The National Education Association (NEA) states that research shows children who receive a high-quality education before they turn five enjoy significant medium- and long-term benefits. Children in early childhood education programs are:
- Less likely to repeat a grade
- Less likely to be identified as having special needs
- More prepared academically for later grades
- More likely to graduate from high school
- More likely to be higher earners in the workforce”
All of the information shows, starting a child with a good, early childhood education starts them off in life with a strong start. At the Opportunity League, we understand that education starts at birth and continues through adulthood. Which is why we are in the beginning stages of launching our own early childhood center that will prepare students from an early age to be successful – which will be known at the STAMP Program. Stay tuned as we launch this new initiative!
By: Sherley Hinds-Gomez