The Learning Edge: Early Childhood Education

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Early childhood education (or preschool) at private school can be a relatively affordable way of looking into private school or of giving your child a learning edge at an early age.

Early childhood programs offered by private schools are focused on learning. They offer your child a head start on his or her education and give him or her a taste of what school will be like. Many governments fund early childhood education (ECE) programs, and in fact some private schools have this funding available to them if their programs meet certain criteria.

Investigate each school to find out what funding might be available to them. In some cases, ECE tuition can be included as childcare costs in your tax accounting (consult with an accountant, to be certain).

Private schools with preschool programs

The Parliament of Canada reports that "Studies in early childhood education and care have consistently demonstrated that quality programming is strongly correlated to the wages, education, and retention of staff." What easier way to find those qualities than at a private school?

Some private schools offer advanced education at early ages. For example, the Elmwood School early years program, in Ottawa, Ontario, offers the International Baccalaureate Programme beginning at the age of three. There are numerous other advantages to sending your child to a private school for their early childhood education.

The pros and cons of Early Childhood Education programs

Some parents are leery of sending their children to preschool, thinking that they should keep them at home for longer.

There are pros and cons, of course. On the one hand, preschool or daycare does offer educational advantages, but on the other hand there are many benefits to a child's development in having a lot of contact with their own parents. Obviously, the choice is a personal one.

According to global education company Knowledge Universe, children go through critical stages of development that can have long-lasting, beneficial effects on the overall development of children. "Choosing a preschool in which your child will be loved and cared for is of utmost importance, of course." However, it's also important to select a preschool that will partner with your family to ensure healthy development throughout your child's early education years.

Social and Emotional Development

There are benefits to your child attending the same preschool program throughout their early years. It allows for relationship development with adults and other children. A child who can develop comfort levels with those in their lives is more likely to be more involved in learning opportunities and in play that is cooperative (role playing with others, playing games with a set of rules). Consistency in the early years of a child's development can help keep aggressive behaviors at bay because they learn to interact with others in a positive fashion and to use those learned interaction skills to handle conflicts.

Cognitive Development

Consistency in the preschool programme can significantly impact a child's cognitive development. Programs that provide the right curriculum to foster development helps children to grow cognitive skills at the appropriate age: meaning the curricula builds on children's existing skills and knowledge to help them expand on those already acquired traits. In addition, curriculum programs that incorporate these types of objectives (such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia preschools) allow children to reach goals in their early years at the right times, and in the right order.

Language Development

Kids are like sponges when it comes to language: they learn it naturally and quickly. A good preschool environment promotes open communication among kids and between kids and adults. They encourage kids to use and develop words to describe their environment, interactions, thoughts, and feelings. They provide lots of opportunity for conversation, discussion, and depending on the age of the child, even reflection and analysis. This develops both cognitive and language skills.