Early childhood education focuses on educating infants and toddlers – one of the most vulnerable and critical stages in life of a person. Toddlerhood to infanthood is the formation of culture, personality, character attitude and aptitude of a child; hence a critical stage. But unlike the conventional classroom education, early childhood education uses more art and play as a learning approach.
The parents are one of the integral aspects of the early childhood education process because they are the ones molding their children at home. And whatever beliefs and teachings that parents do take forms in the minds of their children. Another reason why this stage is a critical one for the children under this age is that this is the time when a child see himself, how he thinks and functions, and how he expect others to respond to him. With this, it is necessary that a child’s self-esteem and values are properly built. To do this, parents, caretakers, and early childhood education program policies emphasize home culture and language by using Individually Appropriate Practice, Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and Culturally Appropriate Practice.
There are 5 diverse but correlated developmental fields of children, commonly referred to as the SPICE of life.
- Social
This typically refers to the ability of a child to play with other children, cooperate, share, create relationships and form attachments with people.
- Physical
This refers to the development of fine and gross motor skills of a child.
- Intellectual
This refers to a child’s process of making sense and understanding the world and things around him.
- Creative
This refers to the development of a child’s special abilities in art, music, reading, writing, and singing.
- Emotional
This is the development of a child’s self-awareness, confidence, and coping mechanisms or responses, as well as understanding his feelings.