Parents who are enrolling their children in school for the first time might become overwhelmed with many programs and phrases used in various institutions. It’s also confusing for them because the terms like childcare and early learning centers are used as if they are the same. 

However, the two are different, and there is certain emphasis that’s placed on childcare, like getting a secure, loving, and safe environment for the little ones while their parents are working. On the other hand, the other is a facility where children are following a structured curriculum, and the importance of educational activities and opportunities are stressed.

How Does Early Learning Differ From Childcare?

Looking for the right care for your baby will mean that you’ll have to get help from an institution that can feed, change, and play with them. Fortunately, you can check this site when you want a more holistic approach towards these two learnings. Each day, these schools aim to feed the kids a more nutritious and organic diet that will promote healthy eating, and the staff is also well-trained with CPR, anaphylaxis, asthma, and first aid certifications.

People who want to enroll their kids on daycare may find it helpful to define the term. This means that someone is going to supervise the kids, and they can be through nannying, crèche, government-run centers, and family-based care.

Parents may prefer nannies that can provide primary levels of support to the child while they are still practicing their motor and cognitive abilities. Supporting working parents when times are hectic, the nannies are practically a life-saver for tired and overworked family members that need some relaxation after a long day.

Family-based care is when an approved carer is in their own home along with the other kids in the neighborhood. Although these are not offered in many cities, you can still get lucky when you have one because it’s nearer and more flexible. Socialization with other similar-aged kids is also available while creches are used during some occasions, such as when you’re at the gym or in the office.

In nurseries, the focus is more on playing, and this is a sort of institution where everyone will get used to the classroom environment before the compulsory education begins. It’s worth noting that there’s nothing wrong with a facility that will completely focus more on care, and the teachers will generally tell the parents if the child is ready for something more. 

Early childhood education and preschools are facilities where the focus is beyond the care of the kids. The children should be meeting several development milestones and they are pushed into learning, so they can prepare better for grade school. Staff are considered to be teachers with at least a bachelor’s degree and passed the board exam.

Play-Based Learning

One type of early childhood learning is through free play, where pre-schools may do activities like playing house and finger printing while learning colors at the same time. Activities are voluntary, and they may seem not much to others, but this is actually a great foundation for many children to become motivated and to develop their social skills. Numeracy and language may also be developed with these as well as taking initiative and becoming curious about the world around them.

Work is different from play, and they are not prescribed by adults. Elements like self-chosen activities where the voluntary play takes place, may be initiated by the teacher, but the children will generally determine the outcome over the long run.

Unstructured time and discoveries are also present in the factors where there are no rules, and the entire process does not aim to achieve a learning goal. This is beneficial because the kids may develop confidence and cognitive skills before they are introduced to the academic approach that involves routine and structure.

Disadvantages may be common because the kids may not be directly exposed to numbers, letters, and other concepts early on. There are no standardized tests, but other more important skills like impulse control and self-regulation may be taught, which you can know more about at this link: https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/self-regulation. 

For academic learning, know that there’s more emphasis on the attention skills of a child, which can make or break their success in high school or college later on. Those who take the route of getting more out of academic learning may already be familiar with certain subjects before they even reach the first grade.

However, there are cons because children may lose interest when they are always forced to do and learn something at an early age. Standardized tests may be common, and those who have been exposed to a more academic setting might score higher, but the playing field tends to be more level when everyone steps into first grade.

Behavior problems are also seen in those who are exposed to academic programs compared to play-based learning. Kids are encouraged to try something new, and they might be embarrassed or ashamed to do other stuff when someone is always judging them. 

Overall, support your children when they are ready and especially if you see that they are having fun. Development of their emotional and social skills where they are taught about empathy for others and being responsible for their actions seem to be more important at an early age. Algebra and chemistry can come later on, but first, a kid should be cultivated to explore new ideas and not view the world from a black or white perspective.

High-quality schools in Australia are now accepting children that are ready to learn in a school setting. The kids can learn about sorting objects according to their shapes, colors, and sizes, and they may engage in fairy tale stories and play with others. Choose the ones that allow the kids to play outdoors and indoors, where there are areas that are exclusive for sensory learning. Finding a program near you is easy, and it’s also important for families to take a proactive approach with their small children.