Early childhood education has benefits, but statistics can be misleading. Head Start programs show that formal education can lead to higher IQ scores and fewer behavioral problems, but the advantage may only last a few years. Quality preschools can lead to better social skills, higher grades, and increased parental involvement. Homeschooling can also be effective, but individual differences mean not all children benefit equally. The best model may be for a parent to stay home with their child for the first few years before starting school.
The benefits of early childhood education are often disputed. Studies with Head Start programs in the United States have shown some evidence that there are benefits to providing a formal education to children who are still very young. It is argued that these statistics, however, are often misused to show more benefits than actually exist. Head Start programs have shown that students entering kindergarten and first grade with some formal education already had higher IQ scores and fewer social and behavioral problems. These kids were also more likely to learn new material quickly.
What most opponents are quick to point out is that these children may only have a head start for the first two or three years of school. By the third or fourth grade, most students who have not received an early formal education have caught up academically and socially with those who have. So while a child who has attended preschool or other early education programs may have an advantage, she doesn’t always cross the finish line first. Other issues remain problematic, such as the crushing poverty that usually qualifies children for Head Start.
Early childhood education is a general term that describes a wide range of programs, from daycare to pre-school and others. There is evidence to suggest that daycare may actually be a detriment rather than a benefit to young children. Longer stays at home with only one caregiver are thought to be more intellectually stimulating. The baby who stays at home is also more likely to benefit from breastfeeding for longer, which, according to many, is of great benefit to the baby.
Most experts agree that early childhood education works best in low-pressure, social and friendly environments. It’s also most effective when daycare is just a small part of a four- or five-year-old’s day. School that results in long hours in kindergarten may not bring the same benefit to children, because it means more time away from parents. Not all programs are equally beneficial and their value can vary depending on funding, teacher-child ratio and teacher experience.
Some of the long-term benefits of early childhood education in quality preschools include greater parental involvement, fewer referrals to special education or remedial services, higher grades, better social skills, and an increased ability to focus. Some studies also show that children who attend kindergarten are more likely to graduate and pursue higher education and to be well socially integrated as adults. These children may also be less likely to commit illegal acts and tend to earn more.
Most of these benefits are cited by Head Start Schools research conducted in the 1980s. This research also found that preschools can be of great benefit to children with developmental or physical disabilities. Children from middle- and upper-class families are less likely to benefit, even though they are more likely to attend kindergarten. Children who speak another language at home also benefit greatly from early childhood, as they are best prepared to learn English when they are very young.
Deciding whether a child should attend preschool is a parental decision that some say shouldn’t be legislated. Children cared for by an inventive and intelligent caregiver are likely to display many of the same traits as those in preschool. They also typically receive more attention in small family settings. However, parents who commit to homeschooling must commit to being creative and engaged in raising their children.
There is strong evidence to suggest that early childhood education can have great benefits for children, but the quality of such education needs to be assessed to see what kind of benefits it actually provides. While it is least effective for children who spend most of their time in daycare, perhaps the best model is to find strategies to allow a parent to stay home with their child for at least the first two or three years before sending the child at school. Equally important is considering a child’s personality because individual differences in children mean that not all children will benefit equally from early education.
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