Current Trends in Early Childhood Education

Most parents view early childhood education as the perfect way to lay a child's educational foundation as they grow up. As a child, you are eager to learn and welcome new experiences, which makes early childhood education an essential part of life.

ECE is not just about learning basic skills; your child will learn social and emotional skills, too. They will learn how to interact and form bonds with their peers and teachers. Your child will learn to overcome his or her shyness by spending time with other kids. This will improve their self-confidence, which is vital for social development.

However, the last decade or two witnessed a shift in how early childhood education is administered. Early childhood educators have begun using technology to customize learning experiences according to the student’s abilities. Other trends include:

Increased Focus on Physical Fitness

The statistics of childhood obesity in the US are quite high, with 13.9% of children aged 2-5 struggling with this problem. Early childhood educators are now increasing the number of outdoor activities and allowing children more time to play and be active.

Preschool organizations are introducing sports such as physical education, dancing, and more recess to the curriculum. The addition of structured activities to supplement playtime will help reduce obesity and create some healthy habits for children.

Increasing Demand for Educators with a Bachelor's Degree

Preschool facilities are opting to hire early childhood educators with bachelor's degrees, especially for positions such as lead teachers. An associate degree in the field will earn you an entry-level position. The trend is likely to continue as preschool facilities want an early childhood educator who will set the best foundation for academic growth.

Technology in Class

The use of technology is gradually improving learning for students by allowing them access to more educational content and tools. Educators are using technology to improve learning and reduce the cost of educational tools such as textbooks.

There is so much information available online; thus, educators can incorporate video and audio lessons to teach children new concepts. This method works well with all children, even those with learning delays.

Emergent Curriculum

Children often use play as their preferred medium of gaining knowledge and exploring their environment. Traditional learning approaches barely allow children to engage and learn experiences that align with their strengths and interests. Instead, the curriculum is a one-size-fits-all, which isn't very effective.

The emergent curriculum takes a different approach as educators design projects after taking into account the needs and interests of the children. The curriculum utilizes reflective practice, which allows the educator to observe the children. Using the findings, educators plan the projects and environment based on a child's interests and skills.

Early childhood education has a huge influence on the physical, mental, and emotional development of children. If you’re interested in learning more about our early childhood education program, contact us to schedule a campus tour today!