Shaping Tomorrow’s “SKILL-SETS” Today !
Picture this – Aarav, a 2 year old, comes yelling in a pre nursery program, announcing his presence with his arms spread out like airplane wings. Priya, another 3 year old, walks into class pointing towards the sky, “There’s the sun, it’s round.” Then when the clouds covered the sun, Priya commented, “look now its been killed.” Children use their imaginations, mixing contents of their imagination with the contents of the real world. An empty television box becomes a cave. A piece of cloth becomes the nape of superman. A group of blocks become a horde of farm animals in a farm. This incredible plasticity of child’s brain points to the importance of child’s surrounding in promoting healthy neurological growth. Known as the Early Childhood stage, these years are globally acknowledged to be the most crucial years for the lifelong development. The pace of development is extremely rapid in these years. It is in these early years of life that crucial periods are located for several cognitive, social, emotional, psychomotor competencies which contribute to later success in life. The values and attitudes imbibed in these early years are strong and permanent roots for one’s entire life. These will always be used as reference for important decisions that challenge men and women. These childhood values inculcated determine moral and ethical behaviors throughout life. When a person has to face difficult and complex situations, or when a new challenge demands important decisions, those values that originally carved the personality will guide options and resolutions, reactions or behaviors. Thus it can be said that early Childhood is a head start for laying the foundation of continued learning. Alexander Flemming, the Scottish scientist who discovered Penicillin said : “I play with microbes. It is very pleasant to break rules.” Frank Lloyd Wright traced his own beginnings as an architect back to his first experiences with simple wooden blocks in kindergarten. It can be said that virtually every significant contribution to culture originally stemmed from a playful act that had its seeds in childhood.
Preparing a child for school is not sufficient. It is important that as well as encouraging children to achieve literacy, we shift their focus in developing an urge to be lifelong learners. The approach towards education in these years should not only be about teaching children how to read and write formally but also about how to think, to wonder, to appreciate, to listen to others and to express themselves. Such soft skills are just as important as cognitive or hard skills like being able to count, recite the alphabets stories, rhymes, respond to their names. If a child can’t follow directions, he or she will have difficulty attending to the task of learning. During group activities such as circle time, children focus their attention on the teacher, listen while their peers are speaking and wait their turn to talk. Also, when a group of children create a make believe book store, they practice many social and cognitive skills as they assign roles to each other, figure out categories of books and how to organize them, make signs to label books; help their “customers” select the book of their liking; and take money for the books. Young children also build social emotional skills through responsive relationships with parents and teachers. When children trust their caregivers to respond consistently to their needs, they learn to regulate their emotions and behavior. Strong social emotional skills are foundations for lifelong learning which in future years help students succeed in school and adults hold steady jobs. Today, young children have been burdened with requirements to absorb more and more academic knowledge and skill, driven by social pressures that urge each learner to join the conveyor belt racing towards a “good job” many years hence. In spite of the increased education imparted, there are increasing amounts of substance abuse that plague many adolescents and young adults.
A multi dimensional and multi functional Early Childhood program will prepare each child for a future where even if many of current “good jobs” may well have changed forever, and completely different understandings and skills will be needed in order to experience well being, they are better prepared to meet whatever challenges they face in real life. It should incorporate learning to be compassionate and respect differences, equalities and fairness as the world is increasingly inter dependent and inter connected. We cannot predict children’s future, but their early education is a powerful tool for building hope. Children of today are adults of tomorrow. We may spend huge amounts to make them graduates, but these expenditures hardly make them human. They have to be developed in such a way that the future, the real future that we all dream about, will come about!
Shaping Tomorrow’s “Skill Sets” Today: A Vision for Early Childhood Care and Education
Imagine Aarav, a curious 2-year-old, entering his pre-nursery class with arms spread wide, mimicking an airplane. Nearby, Priya, a 3-year-old, points to the sky and exclaims, “There’s the sun, it’s round.” When clouds obscure the sun, Priya announces, “Look, now it’s been killed.” In these moments, children blend their imaginations with their perceptions of the world. A cardboard box transforms into a cave, a scrap of cloth becomes Superman’s cape, and a handful of blocks morph into a bustling farmyard.
This imaginative plasticity of young minds underscores the importance of nurturing environments in fostering holistic growth. The early childhood stage is universally recognized as the cornerstone of lifelong development, marked by rapid progress in cognitive, emotional, social, and motor skills. These formative years lay the groundwork for critical skills and values that guide individuals throughout their lives.
Early Childhood: The Foundation for Lifelong Learning
The values and attitudes established during early childhood form the moral compass that directs ethical behavior and decision-making in later years. These principles, ingrained in the formative years, become the reference points for navigating life’s challenges. Whether facing complex dilemmas or exploring new opportunities, the values imbibed in childhood serve as the guiding light.
As Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, once said, “I play with microbes. It is very pleasant to break rules.” Similarly, architect Frank Lloyd Wright credited his early experiences with wooden blocks in kindergarten as the genesis of his creativity. These anecdotes highlight that many cultural and scientific breakthroughs stem from the seeds of playful exploration planted in childhood.
Beyond Academics: Cultivating Lifelong Learners
Preparing children for school is no longer sufficient. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) must focus on fostering a lifelong love for learning. Beyond teaching literacy and numeracy, it is equally vital to cultivate skills like critical thinking, curiosity, empathy, and self-expression. These “soft skills” complement academic abilities and are essential for holistic development.
For instance, during group activities like circle time, children learn to follow directions, listen attentively, and take turns—a foundation for effective communication and collaboration. Similarly, pretend play, such as setting up a make-believe bookstore, teaches children teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity as they assign roles, categorize books, and interact with “customers.”
Strong social-emotional skills, developed through nurturing relationships with caregivers, enable children to regulate their emotions and build resilience. These skills are critical for success in school, work, and life, forming the bedrock of future well-being.
The Need for a Holistic Approach
Today’s children often face societal pressures to achieve academically at an accelerated pace, driven by the promise of future “good jobs.” Yet, this singular focus on academics has coincided with rising rates of adolescent mental health challenges and substance abuse. A well-rounded ECCE program must address this gap, emphasizing compassion, fairness, and respect for diversity in an increasingly interconnected world.
A multidimensional ECCE approach prepares children for a future where adaptability, empathy, and lifelong learning are paramount. Such programs nurture hope, resilience, and the ability to navigate an unpredictable future, ensuring children are equipped to face real-world challenges with confidence and humanity.
Building the Future We Dream Of
Children of today are the architects of tomorrow. While investments in formal education are important, they must be complemented by efforts to instill humanity, empathy, and creativity from the earliest years. By shaping children into compassionate, curious, and capable individuals, we lay the foundation for a brighter future—a future we all dream of.
Early education is not just about preparing for school; it is about preparing for life. It is a powerful tool for building hope and resilience, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to contribute to a better world.
