Early Child Care

Early Child Care Canada

Early child care is an important time of development and growth, which includes many important functions and foundations that a child will require in his/her lifetime. Early child care is the basis of human development and revolves around the many skills that children are expected to accomplish before the age of 5-6.

Early child care includes learning many new skills. Educators believe that learning by playing is the best way to incorporate these skills on a daily basis. 

Physical Skills – Gross motor skills. These skills include learning to crawl, climb, run and balance. Fine motor skills include learning to handling small toys, cutting with scissors, holding crayons for drawing, turning pages of a book, etc.  Manipulative toys that are found in early child care settings enable children to practice this skill on a regular basis.

Language Skills – While a child plays and interacts with others, their language skills develop. Early child care plays a big role in helping to develop this skill. Communicating with others, singing songs, learning letters, and repetition games are some of the ways this skill is developed ongoing with young children in early child care. This skill in particular is best learned through games and play.

Social –Emotional  Skills – It may seem that children should be born with these skills, however social and emotional skills are learned by children through modeling, learning and practice. Learning to share, take turns, hold a conversation, are all skills that a child is required to learn. Early child care allows children to interact with other children through play and other activities, which in turn assists them in this important skill development.  Recognizing feelings and emotions (whether theirs  or someone else’s) are also crucial in helping children develop relationships with others. They need on-going opportunities to practice these skills.

Cognitive Skills – Learning cognitive skills in early child care is never ending.  This skill includes learning shapes, sizes, colours, numbers, as well as problem solving and memory skills.  Educational toys found in early child care is a big factor in helping children learn these skills on a daily basis.

High quality early child care, it provides important intellectual and social stimulation that children may not otherwise receive appropriate age. Research shows that ‘high quality’ child care is critical in determining how effective development can be for young children, but given the overall reviews,  Early child care can enhance a child’s development and establish a foundation for a child’s future success.