ENG 106L

June 21, 2019

Topic: Early Childhood Education

Do you still remember the name of your first teacher when you were a kid?

Answering this question might lead us to reminisce childhood memories that are unforgotten.

Now that I have a child, I want her to have a rich childhood experience that would mold her to be

a successful adult in the future. This is the reason why I strongly believe that parents should

invest in their child’s pre-kinder education. Michele Borba, a world-renowned parenting and

character formation expert explained that the first seven years of a child’s life is vital in

developing his or her character and values (“How parents can make the most of children’s

formative years,” 2018)

Understanding the role of early childhood education can enlighten the parents to

how important it is in the lives of their own children. How did it begin in the first place?

According to Nutbrown and Clough (2013), throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,

along with the religious organization and benefactors, those socially and politically motivated

individuals developed and expanded school systems because of their belief that the education of

young children could contribute to the development of a better society. Nutbrown and Clough

(2013) added that with the Mundella Code of 1882 advocating ‘enlightened’ teaching of young

children, pioneering work on the nature of curriculum simultaneously began. Prominent figures

like Johann Pestalozzi, Friedrich Froebel, Rachel and Margaret McMillan, Maria Montessori,

Charlotte Mason, Susan Isaacs, etc. were influential in the curriculum development for young

people. Play began to be the central component and that the curriculum must be centered around
children themselves. It was in 1918 that Lloyd George’s coalition government passed the

legislation for the introduction of nursery schools for 2–5-year-olds (Nutbrown and Clough,

2013). Taking it in the Philippine context, the Department of Education’s reform “Education For

All’ gave rise to preschool programs by private schools and the presence of day care centers

owned by the government. However, day care centers are only optional for parents who want

their 3-4-year-old children to attend. It is when the child reached 5 that he or she is required to

enter Kindergarten. Philippine Preprimary and Primary Education (n.d.) said that “The Philippine

Education for All Assessment Report of 2000 also stated that a "huge population of children

were either over-aged or under-aged for grade one." Families were postponing the education of

young children as girls were often asked to take care of younger siblings, and together with boys,

help in livelihood.”

There are numerous benefits that a child can gain from having early childhood education.

Socio-emotional development, social skills, and cognitive skills that would prepare the students

for higher academic requirements are some of the opportunities that may develop once the

children are given developmentally appropriate activities that would enhance these skills. Some

parents concern is their child is not ready for formal structure of school, while others do not have

budget to pay private schools. There are even parents who said that letting young children attend

school too early may make them feel exhausted and fed up, which results to lost of interest to

attend school in the next coming years. According to UNICEF Philippines (2018), “Early

stimulation and interaction with parents and caregivers jumpstart the journey of brain

development — and lifetime learning.” As long as the parents understood the impact in

developing the formative years of a child, they can motivate their children to go to school or

homeschool them if budget impedes them to enroll in private institutions. Day care centers are
free here in the Philippines, so there is not reason why a child would not be given a chance to

have early childhood education. As long as the curriculum is developmentally appropriate for

the child, they can always find joy and interest in attending school. “To reach real peace in the

world, we will have to begin with the children.”– Mahatma Gandhi. With that, investing in early

education for our children should be parents responsibility.