The Importance of Early Childhood Education

Obtaining a high-quality early childhood education sets the foundation for a lifetime of learning. And it’s clear why; during the first five years, 90 percent of a child’s brain’s physical size is formed and developed [i].

With over one million new brain cell connections occurring every second during the first few years of a child’s life, research consistently demonstrates that early childhood programs, which focus on preparing children for kindergarten and emphasize the importance of stimulating experiences, yield immense benefits for our younger generations.

Yet, in Illinois and throughout the nation, numerous children are missing out on those vital early childhood learning experiences essential for cultivating their inherent curiosity and play-based learning tendencies [ii].

At Illinois Action for Children we’ve created high-quality early learning programs to serve over 1,100 children and their families in the west and south suburbs of Cook County. Beginning with the prenatal stages up until the age of five, we provide resources and opportunities that provide families with the tools they need to thrive.

Sources:

• First Five Years Fund. “Early Childhood Development.” First Five Years Fund, https://www.ffyf.org/by-topic/childhood-development/.
• National Institute for Early Education Research. “The Current State of Scientific Knowledge on Pre-Kindergarten Effects.” nieer.org, https://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Brookings-Pre-Kindergrten-Effects.pdf