Information about Early Education seems to swing in a pendulum. Based on the “latest research” and often highly subjective, scrutinizing all of the claims about “what’s best for my child” can be overwhelming! How do you sift through the (sometimes contradictory) messages?
All parents start from the same place: we want our children to succeed. We want them to be happy and have lives packed with meaning and significance.
And that’s the best starting place possible.
So, the question is, what is best for children?
About 12 million children in the US under the age of 5 are in some form of daily care outside their home. For those in care, most attend for 8-9 hours a day. The way those hours are filled matters. We would go further: the way a child feels during those hours and the opportunities they are given are what matters most.
Instructional design (the way a teacher teaches) is paramount to facilitating an authentic and meaningful learning experience for young children. What does that mean? It means that there is a world of difference between a 3 year old being given a worksheet or an app and a skilled educator promoting stimulating conversation in an environment of exploration.
A young child’s rate of knowledge acquisition is staggering. Just notice a two year old remembering in detail something they did last week (that you barely remember!) and you will understand the remarkable observers who live in these tiny bodies.
At Creative World Schools, we start with an assumption: children are inclined to learn. It is in a child’s nature – first for survival, and then for growth – to observe and understand the world around them. There is no such thing as a bored child! Given the right environment, every child will investigate. So, what is the right environment?
Decades ago, we began experimenting with the kind of immersive learning environment that captures and stimulates the imaginations of young children and have made some important discoveries:
- A child’s environment should be child-sized – visit one of our schools and discover the difference between a toddler room and a four year old room. We have custom-designed the details for every age group to ensure optimal access, movement, safety, and freedom.
- Children choose open-ended play – our schools are not stocked primarily with electronics and closed-circuit toys. We fill each room with tools, loose parts, puppets, costumes, blocks, and other materials intended to inspire open-ended play.
- Access to nature is key – most of our schools feature at least two playgrounds, custom-designed with a specific age group in mind. We spend intentional time every day exploring the outdoors!
If you haven’t yet, visit a Creative World School near you. We truly believe that our World of Wonder is what is best for children!