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!