Why Early Years Are The Most Important Years In Learning

When they arrive in the morning and say goodbye to their caregivers, they are learning to manage their emotions (emotional regulation).

When they go to the cloakroom to take off their coats and put on their indoors shoes, they are learning independence (I need to prepare for the day), responsibility (I need to put on my inside shoes), fine and gross motor skills (getting dressed, changing shoes, carrying stuff in), and physical development. 

In the classroom they choose what to play, which develops decision making, independence and emotional regulation. If they make a tower with blocks, they are building key pre-numeracy skills (balance, weight, shapes, counting). If they look at a book, even if they can’t read, they are looking at pictures and trying to make meaning of them (pre-literacy, literacy, emotional regulation).

Meanwhile, teachers are influencing and subtly directing much of what is available to kids and helping them to make sense of the “work” they do. 

Read the full article here: Why Early Years are the most important years in learning | INSIGHTS