Early Learning And Development: Early Childhood Education

According to the National Network for Child Care (NNCC), the first three years of life are the most crucial for neural development. The human brain is composed of a network of neural cells that send electrical impulses across synapses. By the age of ten, only the neurons most often fired are maintained for future use. This is why increased stimulation of a child's intellect during the early years is so important. Stimulation includes reading to children to increase language development, promoting a good self-image and offering new experiences.

The Internet opens a whole new world to parents and teachers. Numerous web sites are available offering activities and ideas to promote the development of neurological pathways in a child's brain. Sites such as Perpetual Playschool feature advice and suggestions from preschool teachers, with ideas on how to make traditional lesson plans more exciting. A to Z Teacher's Stuff goes one step further by providing detailed lesson plans for early childhood educators.

Researchers have found that early childhood education is extremely important during the beginning years of a child's life. Parents and teachers need to offer young children new and exciting stimuli. Fortunately, the Internet is a valuable resource for providing ideas to child educators. Many web sites feature extensive information on fun arts and crafts, language development, and educational games to make a parent's job just a little easier.