What is curriculum in early childhood?

Why do you think early childhood curriculum is important?

• what do you think is the most important thing teachers have to know when teaching curriculum?

• Answer:

  Are you referring to pre-school when you are talking about early childhood? I am a Kindergarten teacher and I can tell you that our little ones already have waaay too much pressure on them as it is!! Kindergarteners are expected to read, write, add, subtract, etc. before going on to first grade! I would say that PLAY would be a very, very important part of an early childhood curriculum. Since we have less and less time and freedom in the public school system to allow children opportunities to play and explore without a lot of limits imposed by adults, it is essential that they get these opportunities in their pre-school experiences. Many people do not see the value of play... but children learn important problem-solving and social skills through their self-guided adventures. Don't get me wrong... I'm not talking about mass chaos here... but allowing children to choose from appropriate acitivities (blocks, dramatic play, arts and crafts, building toys, etc.) and allowing them to create their own guidelines for how they play with those toys. (For example, allow them to create their own "masterpieces" in the art center instead of giving them a template to follow every time...). As far as academics, it is helpful if children come to Kindergarten with the ability to identify basic colors and shapes, identify letters by sight, count/ identify numbers to 10, and write their first names correctly. (Beginning with a capital, writing the rest in lowercase). But really, I would much rather have a child come to me that has great social and problem-solving skills and no academic knowledge than a child who can already read but does not know how to follow rules, interact with other children, or solve their own problems. Just my two cents! Hope this has been helpful! :)