The importance of a good early childhood learning environment for children. How does it shape the child for later life?

 

Early childhood refers to the age between (2 to 6) years which is very sensitive period for development in all domains of the life. Environment play very crucial roles in shaping anyone’s life or in development of an individual, but when it comes for early childhood, it becomes very much important to give good environment to them. In order to actively enhance each child's development across all domains, families and all the associated stakeholders can make changes to certain components of the space, materials, equipment, routines, and activities. These changes are referred to as environmental practices. Early childhood is very important where children go through rapid brain development, progress in gross motor skills and experiences which influence their social, cognitive, emotional, language and physical development. In early childhood an individual benefited greatly from learning and development environments that are safe, responsive, and caring. Additionally, these settings aid in the prevention of problematic behaviors and are a vital part of interventions for newborns and early children specially with impairments. For providing safe, secure and supportive learning environment to children, it is very important to-

§       encourage attentive caregiving.

§        encourage young children to feel competent and independent.

§        promote employee productivity.

§        encourage children’s participation.

§         reduce difficult conduct.

§         encourage child to engage in proper social interactions.

§         establish organization and consistency.

Ensuring that all children have equal access to high-quality early childhood environments, it requires effective policies and investments. Early childhood development must be given a top priority by governments, legislators, and stakeholders as a crucial part of social and economic policy objectives. This means improving parental leave laws, increasing access to high-quality, reasonably priced childcare, and funding early childhood educators' professional development. Promoting equal outcomes for all children also requires focused interventions meant to address systemic injustices and differences in resource access. There is possibility that each individual is different so the same strategies may not work for all, for that situation you have to keep individual difference in your mind. Even in developmental process the rate of development is different from each other, there are various childhood developmental principles which creates individual differences among children. Government and stakeholders should focus on creating inclusive and conducive environment for all while keeping eye on individual differences. As this is important time period for development of all domains: -

Cognitive Development: Children participate in language-rich interactions, hands-on learning, and exploratory play in supportive early contexts, all of which promote cognitive development. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and language acquisition are enhanced by exposure to literature, instructional toys, and engaging activities. Furthermore, high-quality early education programmers provide chances for structured learning that improve students' preparation for school and ease their transition to formal education, which reduce the risk of academic inequalities in later life. For inclusiveness government has started appointment of special educator in the school to full fill the need of student will special needs and established kindergarten to give students more secure and safe environment under Early childhood care education (ECCE).

Social and Emotional Well-Being: The main setting for the development of social skills, emotional control, and empathy is early childhood settings. Children have the opportunity to acquire collaboration, empathy, and conflict resolution skills through their interactions with instructors, peers, and carers. Furthermore, strong attachments made in infancy foster emotional forbearance, self-worth, and constructive social interactions, acting as a protective barrier against the negative impacts of stress and trauma in later life. Early childhood environments set the stage for healthy socioemotional development and mental health by providing a loving and supportive environment. The government of India has started recruiting counsellor in the school for better social well-being of the child.

Health and Nutrition: Availability of food, shelter and proper medical care are some basic elements required for good early childhood environment. Early childhood nutrition is essential for the development of the immune system, cognitive abilities, and physical growth. Furthermore, secure and stable living conditions foster stability and security, which lessens the negative impacts of toxic stress on children's growth and health. Early childhood surroundings help to improve lifelong health outcomes and lessen inequities in health by attending to fundamental needs and encouraging healthy habits. There are various iniative taken by government like PM Poshan Yojana to give child health nutritious food.

Family Engagement and Support: Developing good early childhood environments requires strong collaborations between families, carers, and educators. The home learning environment is strengthened and family well-being is improved when parents participate in their children's educational experiences and have access to parenting tools and support systems.

In summary, early childhood surroundings are crucial in determining an individual's and a society's future success and well-being. We can help every child, no matter what their circumstances or background, reach their greatest potential by creating surroundings that are helpful, stimulating, and loving during their early years. Not only is it morally required, but investing in early childhood development is also a wise financial move that will pay off handsomely in the long run for future generations and will shape the future in later life. Let's acknowledge the critical role early childhood circumstances play in determining the course of human development and make investments in line with that understanding as we work to create a more just and prosperous future.

References:-

MoE (2021) About Samagra Shiksha, Department of school education and literacy ministry of education, Government of India. https://samagra.education.gov.in/about.html.

Singh P. (2024) Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE), https://www.shiksha.com/teaching-education/early-childhood-care-education-ecce-chp.

MoE (2024) PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment, https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/pm-poshan.