EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Lesson 10: Early Childhood Education

Concept of Early Childhood Education

• It is a programme for 3-8 year old children.
  
• It is a child-centered programme, follows the play way and activity approach.
  
• It is a programme with a focus on the holistic development of the child.
  
• It aims at providing stimulating play environment for intellectual, language, social, emotional and physical development of the child.
  
• It prepares the child for the formal/primary school education.
  
• It lays foundation for the development of 3 R’s. (reading, writing and mathematics)
  
• It encourages interaction with the environment, active participation in group activities and creative problem solving in children
  
• It provides first hand learning experiences.
  
• It stresses on prior planning and scheduling, but is at the
  
• same time flexible to children’s needs.
  
• It promotes self-control and inner discipline in children.