Don’t Treat Young Children’s Education as Merely a Precursor to “Real” Learning

Jennifer Cimini, M.S. Ed.
Mar 25
2 min read

Updated: Mar 30

Intelligence is defined as the ability to learn.

Language Acquisition

Young children’s brains can uniquely absorb information in the critical early childhood and elementary school phases. If intelligence is defined as the ability to learn, children between the ages of 2 and 7 may be the most intelligent humans on the planet.

Brain Development in Early Childhood: Children’s brains develop rapidly between ages 2 and 7, with synapses doubling around age 2.
Importance of Early Experiences: Rich experiences, such as play, arts, and relationships, significantly impact a child’s development.
Critical Periods of Learning: The brain’s ability to learn is heightened during critical periods, making early childhood a crucial time for cognitive development.
Critical Period for Brain Development: From age 2 to 7, this period is crucial for laying the foundation for holistic education.
Fostering a Love for Learning: Emphasize the joy of learning, encourage trying new activities, and create a safe space for making mistakes.
Prioritizing Breadth Over Depth: Expose children to multi-cultural activities, such as music, reading, sports, and art, to develop a broad skill set.
Importance of Early Development: Between ages 2 and 7, children’s brains are highly receptive to a wide range of skills, making this period crucial for well-rounded development.
Emphasis on Emotional Intelligence: Developing emotional intelligence, including kindness, empathy, and teamwork, is equally important as academic learning during early childhood.
Fostering Empathy: Helping children identify and label their emotions, and encouraging them to consider others’ feelings, are essential steps in developing empathy.
Critical Period for Learning: Some skills, like language and perfect pitch, are best learned during early childhood.
Language Learning Proficiency: Children’s ability to learn a second language to native-like proficiency decreases after age 8.
Importance of Early Childhood Experiences: Early childhood experiences, like Einstein’s exposure to engineering and music, can significantly impact holistic development.