The Importance of Quality Early Learning Opportunities

There has been much discussion on the importance of quality early childhood learning opportunities across Canada in the last decade.  So what do we know about the importance of investing in the early years and child care?

According to the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development’s Synthesis on child care (O-5 years):

Only a few studies have investigated the level of quality available in the United States and Canada, and even fewer studies have attempted to determine the level of quality needed for optimal development. These few studies suggest that the degree of quality needed for optimum development is high — higher than the average child care arrangements currently available in North America.

Evidence suggests that high-quality child care is associated with moderate gains in cognitive, linguistic and social and emotional development for children. Quality care is also associated with increased cooperation and compliance with adults and social interactions among peers. On the other hand, participation in low-quality care, large groups, long hours of care and instability within the care environment may have a negative impact on early child development. Young children participating in this low-quality care are at risk for insecure attachments and heightened behaviour problems.

Additional research demonstrates that:

• mothers’ sensitivity and responsiveness have a greater impact on early childhood social and emotional development than early care experiences;
• children enrolled earlier, before age 3, may experience higher levels of stress (worry) and antisocial behaviours;
• participation in high-quality child care may act as a protective factor for children from disadvantaged homes and increase their chances of academic success.

The Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development’s Synthesis on preschool programs indicates that:

Publicly funded preschool programs, such as Head Start, have been shown to affect different aspects of children’s cognitive, social and emotional development.  Results of short-term preschool studies (e.g. Head Start Impact Study and Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey) have found growth in children in areas such as literacy skills, vocabulary, early writing skills, social skills, and reduced behaviour problems.  Benefits for families include access to health care and, reduced use of physical discipline.

According to First Call BC:

• Research overwhelmingly confirms the importance of early childhood experience in healthy child development.
• Children’s health and well being depend on the health and well being of their parents.
• Healthy pregnancy leads to healthy babies, and health promotion programs to support pregnant and parenting mothers and fathers are key to healthy beginnings.
• Family Resource Programs and other community initiatives support parents and other caregivers to provide developmentally encouraging environments for children.
• Wait lists to assess and provide services for children with special needs are often long.
• Over 76% of women with children under the age of 12 are in the labour market. This rate is expected to continue to rise resulting in a steady demand for child care services to meet labour force participation needs.
• Parents across BC continue to pay the bulk of the costs related to their child’s daycare.
• Programs and services to support children and families are the cornerstone of a healthy future for all Canadians.