One in every five Australian children enters school developmentally vulnerable and unprepared to learn. If a child falls behind in school, they are placed under immense pressure to recover and some never do.
According to studies, having access to high-quality early learning can assist to reduce risk by identifying and addressing problems early on. Early learning participants showed a third lower developmental vulnerability than those who did not (Goldfeld 2013).
There is more involved in early childhood education and child development than preparing children for elementary school. Early childhood education aims to fulfil a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs to create a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and happiness. Early childhood education has the potential to set children on the path of becoming caring, capable and responsible people in the future.
What makes a child vulnerable?
A child’s vulnerability develops over time as a result of a complex combination of individual and environmental factors. As these factors vary and evolve, so do the types and degrees of child vulnerability.
The needs of children are influenced by their age, which exposes them to new dangers. They are completely dependent on their parents and need attentive and constant care. Infants are highly sensitive to their parent’s health and financial problems. Young children under the age of three are particularly sensitive to familial stress and material hardship due to the rapid rate of early brain development.
Regardless of where a child lives, he or she may be exposed to risk factors such as abuse or neglect, domestic violence, mental illness or toxic stress, all of which can contribute to developmental vulnerability.
How does access to early learning help vulnerable children?
Working with young children from infancy to early primary school is important and difficult, according to the science of child development and early learning. Early childhood is a time when developmental changes occur that can have substantial and long-term repercussions for a child’s future.
Many disadvantaged children in Australia who would benefit from early learning do not attend daycare, preschool or kindergarten.
Children who have completed at least one year of pre-primary education are more likely to develop the essential skills necessary for academic success and are less likely to repeat grades at school or drop out. They contribute to peaceful communities and thriving economies as adults.
Little Assets understands the challenges that every parent has with entrusting the care of your child to others away from home. At Little Assets, we take pride in providing a warm, happy and safe environment for your family. Your child should feel comfortable, happy and inspired in our early learning centre. We focus on beautiful and engaging play spaces designed with natural elements that enable children to flow freely between the indoor and outdoor learning environments.
Careful consideration is also given to our families and parents are encouraged to engage and enjoy the environment just as much as children. Our centre has been specially designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and dynamic learning environment for children. The high quality education program features a child-centred approach that recognises the unique characteristics of each child, with routines that are progressive, flexible and tailored to meet their needs.
Little Assets provides programs for children aged six weeks to six years, beginning with infant and toddler programs and continuing through the kindergarten program until they are ready to enter school.
Get in touch with us today. Our staff is here to assist you with any questions you may have regarding early childhood education.