Some Principles On Early Childhood Development Astoria Residents May Wish To Know

By Frank Smith


Normal growth and development of a child is greatly dependent on the environment they grow in. Deliberate effort needs to be put in to ensure that they grow up right socially, emotionally and even intellectually. Children below the age of five years are normally put under a special program referred to as early childhood development. Subsequent sections of this article discuss details about early childhood development Astoria residents may find useful.

Among the close contacts that a child has in their day to day life are the parents, siblings and and teachers among others. As the child grows up, they are able to distinguish persons they interact with from themselves. This happens by the age of two years when they begin to have an understanding of things. Parents and other close contacts should play the crucial role of being early trainers of the young one before the society larger comes in. This helps a great deal in building a great foundation for the children.

Among the first ways children learn to spread their wings and fly is through play. They can either be provided with toys or can be allowed to mingle with others of the same age group. It is through such sessions that a child develops crucial skills including leadership, compassion, art and drama. However simple it may be, playing has a vital role in the normal growth and development of any child.

With changing times, real play with traditional play items and real people is slowly being replaced by technology. With new technology, people tend to spend less time with others while more time is put in watching television, playing video games and surfing the internet. In the long run, and child grows up in a cocoon instead of expanding their territories as they engage with society.

Once a baby is born, the physical aspect of growth is continued through exclusive breastfeeding for six months, complementary feeding until the age of two and a balanced diet thereafter. In addition, the child is taught how to sit, stand and walk at appropriate periods in the milestone ladder. Children begin to express feelings at an early age since it may take time for them to talk and be clearly understood. For instance, infants cry whenever they are hungry, uncomfortable or in pain. They may also smile or laugh whenever they find something amusing, like an adult making faces or funny noises.

Emotionally, young ones express their feelings when they cry, laugh or get withdrawn. As they continue to grow, they may develop other undesirable behavioural patterns including unnecessarily throwing temper tantrums. While tantrums may be normal for children, it is important for parents to take control of such emotions to ensure they do not go beyond the normal limit.

Growth of children is not without challenge. Learning may be impaired by some defects that some children are born with. In addition, children born in poor families may not have the right resources to facilitate adequate learning. Some of them may be subjected to abuse, child labour and even physical violence. For this reason, various stakeholders need to be proactive in following up the young ones as they continue growing up.

In summary, it is vital for society to take time bringing up the future generation in the right manner. Simply being good role models helps a lot in moulding young ones. Some of the key issues addressed when raising a child include physical growth, intellectual enhancement, emotional and cognitive development. Challenges facing early childhood education range from emotional abuse to violence and child labour.




About the Author: