Children’s early experiences and relationships are strongly connected to their future success. This period of development can be positively influenced by experiences in family life, child care, preschool, pediatricians’ offices—in short, anywhere young children go. Early education settings are very important in social and emotional learning. Data show that children who attend early childhood or preschool programs:
• Perform better in kindergarten and first and second grade
• Have higher scores on math and reading tests
• Are more likely to graduate from high school
• Are less likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system
• Are less likely to require special education or remedial services
Find the educators, parents, medical providers and advocates in your community who are eager to form a strong partnership to cultivate social and emotional learning in early childhood. As the old adage goes, it takes a village to raise a child.