Early childhood education vital

Breakfast speakers
February 25, 2011 - Amanda Alexander

Ninety percent of brain development occurs before a child turns 5, and the effects of quality education in the early years are far-reaching.

Dr. Richard Dowell, clinic director at the Children's Devleopment Center, believes the United States needs to shift its focus from teaching to learning. The health of a society is reflected in its dedication to education, Dowell said, and the United States has declined to No. 17 in the world despite spending more money on education than any other country. Dowell said teachers need to understand more about the way children's brains work to maximize their learning potential.

The first three years of life are an "astronomical growth phase" as brain cells are frantically making connections, Dowell said. That proliferation of connections is pruned by the brain; connections that go unused are cut, while those that are stimulated stay strong. That's why it's important to work with a child and play mentally stimulating games - it strengthens those connections.

Dowell said one of the most important aspects of child brain development is the fight-or-flight response. Once this becomes activated, the child has difficulty focusing and isn't able to learn as quickly. Children need to feel safe and secure to learn at their best. That's why Dowell said teachers need to emphasize organization and planning, while parents need to show consistency in discipline, which allows the child to have structure.

Timothy Gage, vice president of human resources for Brodart Co., spoke on the effect early childhood education has on the surrounding community.

When a community invests in early childhood education, he said, they are building a future workforce. Demands for education in the work force continue to increase, he said. The United States is falling behind in global competition, he said, because it does not invest in early childhood education.

"We invest the least amount (of money) during the most critical years," he said, adding: "Children who start behind too often stay behind."

During the early years, children learn to read; but from age 8 onward, they read to learn. Gage said if a child has not developed adequate literacy skills by that stage, the child will continue to fall behind.

[Sam: In the first 2 years, children learn to communicate. If a child has not developed adequate verbal communication skills, the child will continue to fall behind, for life.] Pay adequate attention to the early years.

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