Early Childhood Education
Page 2
By Nicole Williams
Early childhood development is the foundation for future learning. Hence, it’s an important stage in a child’s growth. Because every experience is new to young children, there are many people that can influence them and help their developmental growth. Whether you are a parent, a daycare provider, or a preschool teacher, this article will provide a guideline to some useful tools for early childhood education.
Early Childhood Educators
The definition of an educator is one that teaches. Hence, it’s not only teachers that are educators to a young child. Parents, daycare providers, and older siblings are also early childhood educators. However, there is such a thing as a certified early childhood educator, where the individual must take a series of college courses to get an Early Childhood Education (ECE) certificate.
Early Childhood Education
Children ages 0 to 5 years old are considered the “early childhood” years. The word education refers to any event, occurrence or activity that affects one’s development or growth. With young children, almost everything is new, thus almost everything can be an opportunity for learning.
Computers for Children
There are some desktop computers that are shaped like different things such as racecars. This is optional, but it’s highly recommended that one purchases children’s accessories for a computer. The keyboard should be oversized with large keys and the mouse should be smaller than an adult’s sized mouse. One can purchase mice that are about half the size of a standard mouse.
Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards have many uses and are appropriate for classroom or home use. There are various types of decorated bulletin boards on the market today. A bulletin board is a good investment, as it’s relatively inexpensive and will stimulate a child’s interests.
Free Online Learning
The most diverse free online learning site for young children is Gamequarium.com. The web site has a list of a large variety of games from different web sites. All one needs to do is click on the game and they’ll be redirected to another site to play the game.
Art Games
Crayola.com is the best web site for art games. The site offers games where a child is able to create a picture and then can print it out to color it. One of the most popular games on the web site is “Fireworks Spectacular”, where a child can create a fireworks display and run the fireworks “show” on the computer.
Educational DVDs
Brainy baby videos has several DVDs available for children ages 0 to 5 years old. Subjects covered include the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors, animals and more. Visit their web site at www.brainybaby.com.
Educational Toys
Different toys stimulate different components of a child’s development. Listed below are some developmental skills and the toys or activities that help to develop those skills.
- Creativity - Arts and crafts, pretend toys such as tea sets and doll houses
- Socialization - Two (or more) player games, balls, large pretend toys such as a toy kitchen or toy set
- Fine motor skills - Arts and crafts, building blocks
- Large motor skills Ride on toys, balls
- Sensory skills stuffed animals, water toys, bubbles, clay, musical instruments
- Intellectual Puzzles, games, CDs and DVDs, computers and computer games
Back to School
For educators, preparation for back to school is an important time. The classroom should be a safe and organized environment. “Hands on” toys and activities should be readily accessible to the children. It’s important to keep the most popular toys and activities while bringing some new items into the environment.
