The Importance of Early Childhood Education

Most of us know intuitively that educating children in a nurturing, supportive environment from an early age is important. What isn't so widely known is that there's a wealth of evidence showing just how important early childhood education is – not just for the development of the child's cognitive skills, but also for their future academic achievement, health, and economic prosperity. Just imagine the possibilities if every child in the U.S. received a quality pre-K education!

Here are some facts about the need for early childhood education, courtesy of the First Five Years Fund, a nonprofit advocating for early childhood education for disadvantaged children:

• Children who have access to quality early childhood education are less likely to need special education services or drop out of school and are more likely to become productive members of the workforce. 

• These programs are also critical for parents, both to shore up their participation in the workforce and to provide them with support and information to enhance their own parenting.  

• Nobel Prize Laureate economist James Heckman has shown that every dollar invested in quality early childhood education for at-risk children delivers a return on investment of 7-10% per year through increased school achievement, healthy behavior, and adult productivity. 

• Heckman's work proves that prevention through early childhood development is more cost-effective than remediation.

• Research shows a direct correlation between effective early childhood education and better health outcomes, mainly through the early development of social and emotional skills such as attention, persistence, and impulse control.

• Research also shows that quality early learning reduces depression, obesity, and teenage pregnancy by providing the foundational skills and abilities for a healthy lifestyle.

Check out the First Five Years Fund's powerful YouTube video summarizing how important early childhood education is for families, communities, and the entire country. Sammy's House is proud to be doing such important work for children, both with and without special needs, in Austin and surrounding areas.