When I think of early childhood education, I think of 4 and 5 year olds sitting n a classroom learning their ABCs and 123s. But education begins way before a child even knows how to speak. Early childhood education begins when a child is as young as 7months old. (Not any formulaic number, just one I chose). Every word he hears and the tones of the words have an impact on him.
Mr. Claibourne Barksdale spoke with us this week about the importance of early childhood education. Mississippi is the only state in the South (and one of only a handful of states period) that does not have a state sanctioned Pre-kindergarten system. The daycares that they do have are often dark and hot so that the children are tired and more easily manageable. However, pre-schools are supposed to teach children, not babysit them, keeping them quiet until their parents come and get them. Teach them? You may ask "how/what am I going to teach a 7month-old baby?" Now Im not talking about teaching them calculus or Shakespeare. I mean talk to the kids in full sentences, engage them, make them comfortable enough to want to talk back to you in whatever gibberish or baby language they have created.
Mr. Barksdale's talk made me re-evaluate how I treat my own young cousins, nieces, and nephews. I often play with them but sometimes I don't want to be bothered so I stick a pacifier in their mouths, hoping they'd just be quiet.
I wish I had a critical question to ask Mr. Barksdale but I don't. I only have one comment; The children are our future. Yes, I know it sounds cliche and we hear it almost everyday but it is the truth. They are the ones who will be running the country and taking care of us in our old age. We need to remember to treat them as people (like actually interacting with them) instead of assuming that a bottle and a toy will bring them the ultimate joy.
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