#early childcare education

[makkalajagriti]

5 Reasons Why Your Support is Crucial for Early Childhood Education Programs

Introduction

Early childhood education programs lay the foundation for lifelong learning, making your support essential in shaping future generations.

Building a Strong Educational Foundation

Importance of Early Learning

The early years are critical for cognitive development, and quality education during this period builds a strong foundation for future academic success. Early learning experiences stimulate brain development and prepare children for the complexities of formal education. During this formative period, children's brains are incredibly receptive to new information, and enriching educational experiences can have a profound impact on their cognitive abilities.

Impact on Academic Performance

Children who attend early childhood education programs often perform better in reading and math throughout their academic journey. Studies have shown that early exposure to structured learning environments helps children develop essential skills and knowledge that set the stage for long-term academic achievement. These foundational skills ensure that children are well-prepared to tackle more advanced concepts as they progress through their education.

Fostering Social and Emotional Development

Developing Interpersonal Skills

Early childhood education programs provide a structured environment where children learn crucial social and emotional skills. Interaction with peers in a guided setting helps children develop important interpersonal skills such as sharing, empathy, and cooperation. These skills are vital for building healthy relationships and navigating social interactions throughout life.

Emotional Regulation

These programs teach children how to understand and manage their emotions, laying the groundwork for emotional intelligence. Learning to recognize and appropriately respond to their own emotions, as well as those of others, equips children with the tools they need to handle various life situations with resilience and understanding. This emotional foundation is crucial for personal well-being and effective communication.

Promoting Equality and Reducing Achievement Gaps

Access to Quality Education

Support for early childhood education programs helps bridge the gap between children from different socio-economic backgrounds, promoting equality. Providing access to quality early education ensures that all children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to succeed. This inclusive approach helps level the playing field and gives every child a fair start in life.

Long-term Benefits for Society

Reducing achievement gaps early on leads to a more educated and equitable society, benefiting everyone in the long run. When children from all backgrounds receive a solid educational foundation, the ripple effects extend beyond individual success to societal improvements. An educated populace contributes to economic stability, lower crime rates, and a more engaged and informed citizenry.

Enhancing Parental Engagement

Parent-Teacher Partnerships

Early childhood education programs often involve parents, fostering a collaborative approach to a child's development. These programs create opportunities for parents to engage with educators, enhancing the support system for the child. This partnership ensures that children receive consistent encouragement and guidance both at home and in the classroom.

Empowering Parents with Resources

By providing parents with resources and guidance, these programs help them support their child's learning and development at home. Parents gain valuable insights into effective teaching strategies and child development principles, empowering them to create a nurturing and stimulating home environment. This support extends the benefits of early education beyond the classroom and into the daily lives of children.

Boosting Economic Growth

Return on Investment

Investing in early childhood education programs has significant economic benefits, both for individuals and society as a whole. Research shows that every dollar invested in early childhood education yields substantial returns in terms of improved outcomes and reduced costs in other areas. These returns include higher earnings, better health, and reduced need for social services, illustrating the long-term economic value of early education.

Workforce Preparation

Quality early education prepares children to become productive members of the workforce, contributing to economic growth and stability. By equipping children with the skills and knowledge needed for future success, early education programs help build a competent and competitive workforce. This preparation is essential for sustaining economic development and ensuring that future generations can thrive in a dynamic and evolving job market.

Conclusion

Your support for early childhood education programs is crucial in building a strong foundation for children's future success. By investing in these programs, you are contributing to the cognitive, social, and emotional development of young children, promoting equality, enhancing parental engagement, and boosting economic growth. Together, we can shape a brighter and more equitable future for all.

ECCE at Makkala Jagriti 

Makkala Jagriti, an education NGO in Bangalore, is providing quality ECCE to children from underserved communities. Makkala Jagriti’s ECCE program is designed to promote the holistic development of children, including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects. By nurturing the inherent potential of every child, especially in rural-poor communities, we believe that ECCE can be the ‘greatest and most powerful equalizer’ in our society. (Read More: https://makkalajagriti.org/ecce-program/ ) 

[iecec]

The Benefits of an Early Learning Childcare Centre

Researchers have found that high-quality early learning can have long-term benefits, including narrowing the achievement gap. It also provides a warm and supportive environment that fosters children’s curiosity and love for learning.

Unlike daycare, an early learning childcare centre offers more educational opportunities. It serves children 6 weeks through Kindergarten, and often provides after school care as well.

Educational programs

An early learning centre is a child care facility that offers educational opportunities. It’s a great choice for parents who value the importance of learning in their children’s lives. A quality early learning center will give your child the tools they need to succeed in the next phase of their life.

A traditional childcare centre is a place where working parents send their children to be watched while they are away from home. These centres typically offer basic care, such as meals and supervision. While they may also offer some educational activities, they are not designed to promote learning and development.

The New York City Department of Education provides affordable early childhood programs for families with children birth to five years old, including preschool and EarlyLearn. Some programs are located in child-care centers, while others are offered through family child care networks. Some of these programs are available in both a child-care center setting and in residences.

Routines

A carefully crafted routine serves as a guiding force for children and caregivers. It syncs with their internal clocks and offers a sense of safety and security. In addition, it helps children cope with transitions and self-control.

Young children are also socially shaped through the interactions they have with other people. This happens through routines such as greetings and good-byes, sharing toys, playing games, and eating meals. These interactions allow children to learn social skills that will serve them throughout their life.

It is important to have a balance between small group activities and free choice time for each day of the week. It is also helpful to incorporate a variety of different educational programs into the daily schedule. This will help keep children engaged in their learning and prevent boredom. Also, it is a good idea to select music that encourages movement and provides clear instructions (like the 10 steps of the Wiggles or Shake Your Sillies Out). This will help children stay engaged without distraction.

Social-emotional development

Social-emotional development and learning is a critical component of a child’s success. It helps children learn to manage their emotions and build relationships, which are essential for healthy development and learning. Caregivers play an important role in promoting social-emotional development. By providing nurturing relationships, they help children develop the neural connections necessary for executive function skills.

In family childcare settings, social-emotional development often happens organically as teachers and children interact. However, it can also be taught and nurtured. The following resources provide ideas for integrating and embedding social-emotional learning opportunities into daily experiences and routines.

Encourage children to express their feelings and interact with others in a safe, positive environment. Provide support for children who are having difficulty expressing their feelings or engaging in social interactions by guiding them with activities that promote emotional literacy and self-regulation. Also, reinforce positive behaviors with praise and other forms of reinforcement. This will help children feel confident and safe in their environment.

Creative arts

An early learning childcare centre offers children a wide range of educational opportunities. Its curriculum covers all developmental domains, and its teachers are experienced in encouraging children to be self-advocates. It also focuses on socialemotional development, which is critical for cognitive growth and success.

Creative arts activities help young children cultivate their imaginations and abilities across every domain. They are open-ended and foster divergent thinking, which teaches kids that the process is often more important than the product. They are also essential for building creativity and self-esteem.

The visual arts environment and materials you offer communicate to students, families, and your teaching team how much you value artistic expression in the classroom. Rich visual arts experiences don’t have to cost a lot of money. For example, natural materials can be thoughtfully collected for ephemeral art and recycled materials can be arranged aesthetically to create three-dimensional sculptures. These experiences provide children with a sense of wonder and exploration and help them build fine and gross motor skills.

[terezisexbuttpyrope]

I'll add the ratios in USA a bit later

[babyspacebatclone]

Small rant from a daycare teacher:

It’s important and healthy to teach children they can be told no.

We’re talking something like a bell curve, you need to be in the middle, but please for the love of your child’s future please answer this:

Will your child be expected to stop at red lights?

Will your child have to make appointments in inconvenient days?

Do you want your child to be able to live with, at most, a manageable amount of debt?

If you want those things for your child in the future - safety when driving, handling making doctor’s appointments in the schedule available, and financial health - If you want your child to be able to handle that in the future…

They need to learn that it’s ok to be told “no.”

That they can’t get everything exactly when they want it.

That some things are reasonable, but maybe not right now.

That other people have needs too, and we sometimes have to put those needs first for the time being.

Please.

I’m just… Exhausted from the three year olds complaining “But I want it!” or “I don’t want to [take my break]!” for months.

Because that behavior is age appropriate.

It is age appropriate for a child to want to impose their desires on the greater world. They don’t know other people have real feelings, real needs.

They need to learn this.

But if the belief that “I want this!” is going to work for months, that means they A) are getting away with it from someone regularly and B) aren’t learning patience and self control.

And at the minimum, if you want your child to have the independence of a driver’s license, they’re going to have to learn patience and self control.

And I promise you, they can start learning even before the age of 1.

On the flip side, of course, they also need to learn they do have control over the world, but that’s a different rant right now……

(They won’t be good at self control at age 1, in fact the way you know they’re learning is they cry at the word “no.” But that’s the process, and the earlier they understand the world imposes limits on them while having their needs otherwise met, the earlier they can learn coping skills for working within those limits.)

[9w1ft]

Don't you find the strict rules of society in Japan overwhelming for you and the kids?

not one bit

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Alberta government is looking to parents to help shape the future of child care in the province by sharing their thoughts in a online survey. Meanwhile critics say the program needs to change. The Early Learning and Child Care Parent Engagement Survey invites parents to share their ideas about what defines high-quality child care and the services they expect from operators. The province said feedback gathered from the survey will help shape the future of child care in Alberta. But critics say changes need to be made to the program before moving it forward.

Continue Reading

Tagging @politicsofcanada @abpoli

[care666bear]

You’re a glorified babysitter not a teacher

if you don’t think children’s development is teaching, I have news for you lol. While watching said children - they’re still learning social & cognitive skills, emotional regulation, little fundamentals. my certifications in literal early childcare education - child behaviour, development & curriculum + workshops also might say otherwise idk. they’re still little humans that arguably learn more than many daily bc they’re curious & new to the world! :) - we just make it fun & get to play too, absolutely. at least Im getting paid for it! Lol

[benevolentdinosaur]

Prompt: You are four years old and in preschool. Your teacher announces that it's time to pack away

Please reblog so we can find more classmates to help pack away

[autism-activated]

2s and 3s are so fun:

Me: Oh, actually I have a turtle!

J, 3: What's it's name?

Me: His name is Tim!

J, 3: Tiny Tim!?

Me: Yeah, like Tiny Tim!

E, 2: Did you put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim?

She then proceeded to giggle uncontrollably at her own joke for 10 minutes. I love these kids so much.

[anne-chloe]

forgot to say

but I’m officially a level 3 childcare practitioner

I’m officially qualified as of yesterday

[vigilantejustice]

:(

[iecec]

How to Build a Successful Childcare Business

Childcare is a business that depends on parents' need for it, but the industry faces challenges as costs rise past what families are willing to pay. A robust marketing strategy can help a childcare business stand out from the competition and attract parents.

Daycares typically need an EIN, which is a unique tax identification number issued by the IRS for companies with employees. An in-home daycare can also qualify for certain home office deductions.

Preparation

State and local regulations govern the establishment of a childcare business. Whether you run your daycare out of your home or a dedicated facility, you must prepare for inspections and pass all required testing and clearances. This often includes a health and safety training course for all providers, assistants and substitutes.

You must also decide how you will operate your business -- as a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. An attorney can advise you of the benefits and disadvantages of each option.

You must also develop a disaster management plan and establish policies and procedures for your daycare. These can include child development, nutrition, staff evaluation and safety protocols. You may need to submit reports and pay taxes, as well. This information is typically included in the registration paperwork.

Getting Started

A childcare business can be emotionally and financially rewarding. The flexibility of owning your own business can make it easier to balance work and family obligations, while a daycare can provide you with additional income sources and help you build wealth.

Researching the market is a crucial step in starting any new business. Identify your target customers and confirm that they have a problem your business could solve. For example, maybe the existing child care options in your area are too expensive or offer rigid drop-off and pickup times that working parents find difficult to manage.

You should set up a business credit card and bank account to keep your personal expenses and those of your day care separate. This will reduce your tax burden come filing time.

Marketing

A solid marketing process is one of the best tools for growing your childcare business. It enables you to better meet the needs of your customers, which in turn helps improve client loyalty and long-term sustainability.

Start by submitting your business to digital maps that serve the area you're targeting. Follow the submission guidelines of each map to ensure you're listed properly.

Consider hosting local community events at your location to attract new families. Partnering with local art, music or dance enrichment groups is an effective way to showcase your space while connecting with parents.

Another effective strategy is holding open house events or welcoming new clients with a discount on their first visit. These can include activities, refreshments and the ability to network with other business owners in the area.

Staffing

Recruiting and retaining good employees is a challenge for all business owners, especially in the child care/early education sector. Great employee retention leads to a happier and more productive workforce.

Having the right staff is essential for day-to-day operations as well as building trust with parents and children. The better the team you have, the less disruption there will be to your program and the more smoothly everything runs.

It is important to have a good understanding of regulations and requirements when hiring. It is also recommended to have a clear idea of what the job description is for each position and to interview candidates thoroughly. It is common for childcare professionals to allow new hires to work temporarily on a trial basis before making them permanent.

[ceevee5]

Labour’s approach is interesting (you won’t hear me say that often) on childcare. They’ve looked at what works in Ireland, Australia and Estonia’s childcare systems, and Phillipson will go next to Singapore.

[britneyshakespeare]

So I was back to subbing at the elementary school today, which as I've mentioned is my favorite place to work. In some ways it's just the most comfortable to me; this is now my fourth year in a row I've had some kind of job associated with kids of that age group who attend that school, so I know a lot of the students and faculty. Actually, a lot of the faculty who work there today have been working there since I was a student.

Most of them recognized me immediately when I started showing my face there, like I didn't graduate from there over a decade ago, age 11. There was one para, who now works as a library assistant, but who used to monitor lunch and recess. I didn't remember her name but I knew her face. The first time she saw me subbing she was just like "oh, hi Diana."

I was talking to her this morning before school started because a first grade teacher unexpectedly called out, so I filled in for her for the first hour of the day before I started the job I clocked in for and a replacement could be found. But this library assistant usually leads the morning meetings with this first grade class and would help me with attendance and all those other beginning-of-the-day responsibilities.

She was saying to me "You know, why don't you work here full time? You're good with kids. You'd be good at it." In other small talk we'd had last year she had asked me similar things, like if I'd ever consider taking up a steady job at the elementary school, how my school was going, etc. I'm in between college right now but currently not taking classes. And I mentioned how I'm trying to take more sub jobs at the middle and high school so I get more well-rounded—that actually is the age group my education major is in. I've been working with the preschool-to-fifth-grade age range but my plan has always been middle-to-high school English.

And I was telling her about that, and I was like "You know what? When I tell people I want to teach older kids, some say to me stuff like 'oh you never know, you might change your mind'—and only recently I've been wondering if I really would. But I hate it when they're right!"

And that made her laugh. But it's true! I do really love working with the littles, as it turns out. Been doing it several years now. But in terms of anyone who's ever mentioned that to me unprompted, I wanna be like... hey, what do you know?!?!

[jannamarie123456]

Changes To The Educational Services Teachers Award For ECT’s In Early Childhood Services

Recent changes made to the Educational Services Teachers Award for Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs) in Early Childhood Services. These changes, effective from January 1, 2022, include revisions to classifications, pay rates, and allowances. The new classification structure is aligned with professional standards for teachers and reduces the previous 12 levels to five.