Early childhood education boosts children’s success

Numerous studies, including a 2017 report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, show that students who spend at least two years in an early childhood education (ECE) programme before attending primary school perform better later in life. Positive effects are seen in academic performance, social behaviour, health and even future earnings and employment. 

Also, research by the Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University indicates that the human brain develops rapidly from birth to age five, with “more than one million new neural connections [being] formed every second.” 

The brain’s development is affected significantly by children’s experiences and relationships during these early years. Multi-sensory learning experiences, health and nutrition support, as well as caring relationships that respond to and reinforce childhood development, are instrumental in enabling the positive development of young children. ECD needs to support four domains of childhood development: physical, cognitive, personal-social-emotional and language. A well-designed and effectively delivered ECD programme – such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) programme at the Aga Khan Nursery School, Kampala for ages ranging between two and five years – plays a crucial role in a child’s future success. This stage makes a child fit in the principles categorised as: a unique child; positive relationships; an enabling environment; and learning and development.

This programme also provides support in the development of literacy, mathematics, understanding of the world and expressive arts. These areas interact with the developmental domains to optimally support children by preparing them for primary school and for their future. Research demonstrates that access to high-quality ECD programmes can result in long-term gains in university completion rates and even higher earnings in adult life.

Parental engagement

How can parents support children’s development during these crucial early years?

• Dedicate time to read to your child daily. Ask questions about the pictures and characters in the story;

Spend time outdoors, exploring nature.

• Talk to your child about colours, shapes, numbers, sizes and counting.

• Help your child learn new words to encourage language development;

Create a learning space at home where they can play, draw or be creative; 

• Acknowledge their feelings and provide support to enhance their emotional development;

Arrange play dates with other children to support development of social skills; and

• Invest in your child’s future by enroll them in a quality ECD programme for at least two years.

The writers, Mahmoud Sayani and Doreen Kaumi, are from Aga Khan Education Services, Uganda