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The Hidden Effect of Early Childhood Education

Play-Based Learning · August 10, 2019

{Preschool doesn’t change kids’ IQ. The benefits of early childhood education are much more subtle but no less impactful.} 

I noticed a recent article on Wired Science entitled “How Preschool Changes the Brain.” Of course, being interested in child development I was immediately intrigued. The article reviews several classic studies conducted over the past 30+ years investigating the long-term benefits of early childhood education programs (i.e., preschool) on children’s academic and career outcomes.

As you might have expected, children who attend preschool (especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds) were more likely to graduate from high school, get better grades, stay married, and less likely to get arrested.


benefits of early childhood education This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links provides a small commission to this blog (at no added cost to you). Thanks.

What are the Benefits of Early Childhood Education?

Your first reaction to these findings might be to assume that preschool makes these children smarter. Maybe all the exposure to books, learning games, etc. really increases their intelligence. However, when you look closer at the findings, you see that the children’s IQ scores remain relatively stable over time. Some kids’ IQ may increase slightly in the years immediately following preschool but usually stabilizes near its original level later in life.
 
It turns out that the effect of early childhood education is that it teaches the life skills that are often more important than IQ in determining one’s success in life–skills like self-control, persistence, and self-discipline. So, after reading that, I felt the title of the article should be something more like, “How Preschool Changes Behavior, not the Brain.”


We have since learned that the best way these “soft” skills are learned is through play-based learning. This doesn’t mean chaos or that kids are let loose to do whatever they want. It simply means that preschoolers learn best when are actively engaged in activities that are meaningful to them.

 
Related reading: Emotional Intelligence in Children: How to Develop those Crucial “Soft Skills”

What is meaningful to a preschooler? Playing with her friends, pretending to be dogs and cats, learning how to share and take turns. PLAY is the engine of learning in early childhood. I discuss this more in this quick video and how we adults can subtly guide the process.

What is the Purpose of Early Childhood Education?

This discussion of play gets us back to the real purpose of early childhood education. Despite today’s emphasis on rigorous academics, the main purpose of early childhood education has always been social-emotional learning and basic academic preparation. Yes, preschoolers need to learn their ABC’s, numbers, letter sounds, etc. but the real preparation for kindergarten comes in the form of socialization.

what is the purpose of early childhood education

Young children are still really learning how to be human and function together in a group of other little humans. This recent study reiterated this to me more than ever. It reminds us that things that we adults take for granted, like social reciprocity and gratitude towards others, do not usually come naturally to young children. These social conventions involve pretty advanced social-emotional skills, self-regulation and most importantly, practice.

Therefore, besides learning basic academic skills, early childhood education is really meant to be a testing ground for guiding and helping kids learn crucial social skills. Research tells us the most effective way to do this is through play, specifically play guided by a skilled adult who cares for these youngsters.

The Impact of Early Childhood Education

Economists love these kinds of findings because it means tax-payers can get a lot of bang for their buck by investing in early childhood education programs, especially for disadvantaged children. In fact, the Wired article showed that “for every dollar invested in preschool for at-risk children, society at large reaps somewhere between eight and nine dollars in return.” Wow! I would much rather invest in preschool than prisons.

time in toolkit

Reading this article reminded me of Ellen Galinsky’s great book Mind in the Making in which she discusses the importance of teaching children crucial life skills like self-control. With all the emphasis on academic rigor and high-stakes testing, it’s easy to forget that these life skills are equally, if not more important than book knowledge.

Related reading: Common Misconceptions of Early Learning

Of course, all this emphasis on preschool doesn’t mean we, as parents, cannot teach our kids these skills at home.

There is nothing magical about preschool; it’s just a scheduled, regulated environment that helps children learn these skills.

positive effects of early childhood education

Even if your child is in preschool, you would still have to reinforce these lessons at home. As far as the public sphere, however, preschool is a good investment in our nation’s future.

child temperament book

Wondering what to look for in a play-based preschool?

Download this checklist and be prepared for that preschool tour!

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Related Resources:

mind in the makingMind in the Making

the most important yearThe Most Important Year

 

Perfect for Pinning:

benefits of early childhood education

 

Filed Under: Play-Based Learning Tagged With: cognitive, education, preschool, self-regulation

Amy Webb, Ph.D.

Writer and mom of two who brings academic child development and parenting information into the lives of ordinary parents who can use it in their daily lives.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy says

    September 27, 2010 at 1:41 am

    I think there is something also a correlation with the parents who send their children to preschool. Parents who are motivated to send their children to preschool are more likely to teach and model for their children those life skills that you talked about.
    I've loved reading your articles and have an award for you over on my blog! Oh So Savvy Mom

    Reply
  2. Krisi says

    August 11, 2019 at 12:13 am

    I love your input on this topic and agree completely. Sure, children could learn these developmental abilities at home, but why not both? It is also a great way for them to begin to learn structure in school and socialization skills with other children at school. I love your posts!

    Reply

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Amy Webb
As a mom of two young boys, I've seen first-hand how research-based child development information, combined with intuition, can guide you through your parenting journey. Although I have a Ph.D.in Human Development and Family Sciences, many of my real parenting discoveries have come through my experience. I believe parenting with confidence comes from knowledge; parenting with grace comes from insight. Join me on this parenting journey of learning and discovery

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