by Erica Oakley, Humanitas Global Development
Pre-school education can have a lasting and positive impact on a child's development - cognitively and socially. On Tuesday, President Obama addressed the need for pre-school education, stating: 'study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road...Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on -- by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime.'
Some would argue that pre-school education is not needed - what can a child learn by drawing with crayons and making shapes with Play-Doh all day? However, you could also argue that it's not just the physical act of learning that can positively impact cognitive development; children learn by playing too. In fact, according to James Heckman, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, “The greatest effect of early childhood programs is on non-cognitive skills, motivation and achievement, not on IQ.” The World Health Organization also notes that 'early childhood is the most important phase for overall development throughout the lifespan.' It is during these early years that children gain social skills and learn to be creative and curious.
Organizations such as Right to Play, are working hard to ensure that children from disadvantaged communities around the world are given the right to play and to be children. The impact of play, particularly in lower-income communities, can be numerous. As noted by Right to Play, a few of the impacts are:
- promoting health and preventing disease
- strengthening development and education
- enhancing inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities
- promoting gender equality and empowering girls and women
- enhancing social inclusion, preventing conflict, building peace
Bottom line - the more interaction a child receives, particularly in those earliest years, the more cognitively and socially developed that child will become, and the more likely that that child will grow into a well-balanced adult. So to ensure that children begin life heading in a positive direction, read to them. Teach them. Give them a head start in life. Let them play.
