High-quality early childhood education is about much more than teaching children basic literacy and numeracy skills.
That statement from Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clark, who was the keynote speaker at the Third Annual Teecha Early Childhood Conference held at the Montserrat National Trust this week.
Addressing participants at the conference, Professor Kinkead-Clark explained that early childhood education helps children develop essential social and emotional skills, including cooperation, communication and the ability to express their feelings appropriately.
She noted that these skills are becoming increasingly important as children spend less time engaging in face-to-face interaction and outdoor play.
The senior lecturer also emphasized the importance of nurturing curiosity, resilience and confidence from an early age, describing children as natural explorers.
Professor Kinkead-Clark stressed that experiences during the early years helped shape brain development and laid the foundation for future learning and success and urged educators and caregivers to be intentional in supporting children’s development.
Professor Kinkead-Clark is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at The University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica.
She also serves as the Manager of the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre and Lead External Examiner for Early Childhood Programmes in Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands.