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Core Concepts About Early Childhood Development

As parents, we want our children to undergo healthy development and fulfil their potential. We can only accomplish that if we know the science-based concepts and approaches in early childhood development. This will in turn influence our actions and decisions relating to our children (e.g. which early learning centre to choose, what kind of environment they should be in).

Core concepts about early childhood development

The first core concept is about how the children’s environment and early experiences influence their development. In Nature vs Nurture, we know that genes play a role and may give initial advantages to a child as he/she grows up. However, some of those genes might be turned on or off depending on one’s environment and experiences. This is especially the case with children in their early years as they undergo rapid development. In other words, Nurture plays a bigger role in helping a child fulfil his/her potential through the years.

Another core concept is that everything’s connected. In child development, this means that their cognitive capacities affect their social and emotional functions as well (and vice versa). The children’s brain functions (and our own) interact and coordinate in several complex ways. As a result, learning during the early years should be integrated and holistic (not just literacy and numeracy, but also play-based learning where children can interact with objects, other people and their environment).

What should we do

With those core concepts in mind, we’re better equipped to help our children with their proper development.

It was mentioned here that early experiences have a heavy influence on children. What we can do as parents is ensure that the right ingredients are already present in the first place (instead of trying to correct the problems early on). This is crucial because a child’s early years is when the core brain architecture and circuits are being formed rapidly. Yes, there are still years of opportunities for correction and improvement. But it’s still better and more productive to focus on the children’s early experiences and their learning foundation.

As parents, we have to ensure that the environment in both our homes and in the early learning centre is safe and nurturing. There should also be plenty of stimulating activities that will aid our children’s rapid growth and development. In addition, there should be continuous support from us parents and the educators. This way, children can better cope with the experiences and challenges they face as well as ensure their safety and wellbeing.