When Dreams Begin: Early Childhood Education
What Happens Early in Life, Lasts a Lifetime
There’s nothing sweeter than baking sweets with the children in our lives. As our young chefs explore the textures and smells of each ingredient, and as they roll, stir and share the triumph of finishing a recipe, they are building both knowledge and special bonds. They may even be sparking a life-long passion. Just ask Christine Grosch, an early childhood teacher at University City Children’s Center.
“I have children who come back as high school and college students,” Grosch said, “Who say things like: ‘I remember baking in the classroom and so I’m pursuing culinary arts.’”
At UCCC, we use a term to describe the enduring and transformative power of childhood: What happens early in life lasts a lifetime.
Children Learn From Birth
Grade school does not by any means mark the beginning of learning. An infant begins to learn the moment they’re born, which takes the form of staring at faces, listening to voices and reaching for objects. It progresses to learning through play. Our responsibility is to transform each of those moments into teachable and brain building moments.
The key to transforming each moment into a teachable one is presence and communication. Because children aren’t yet able to comprehend or express themselves in complex dialogue, early childhood educators interact with and teach children through play and empathetic conversation.
Teachable Moments
It’s in the youngest years of a child’s life that they learn to empathize and socialize, which makes even challenging moments critical to their development.
“As teachers, we have to remember that we bring our own baggage to the classroom. So, how do we use that?” said Grosch. “We can say: ‘I’m kind of cranky today’ and share what happened. That’s a learning opportunity for them to start to understand empathy.”
Early childhood education shapes children into the adults they’ll become. Listening to children demonstrates to them that their emotions and personal needs are important. When they are listened to, they become great listeners. Taking time to understand students helps them develop the social skills, emotional expression and coping mechanisms they’ll need to thrive. And children who are encouraged to explore and grow become life-long learners.
It Starts at the Start
Childhood development starts at the very beginning. The lessons taught inside the classroom impact children’s lives outside the classroom. Children take the empathy, curiosity and fun from school to home to life.
What happens early in life lasts a lifetime means that every moment — from the positive to the traumatic — is impactful and enduring.
UCCC is hiring! Join our teaching staff and to teach with purpose by encouraging children to grow in their earliest years of learning.