Early Childhood Curriculum

Early childhood curriculum
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Early childhood refers to the period between birth and eight years old. It is a crucial period of remarkable growth and the development of the brain is at its peak. At this period, the environment and the people surrounding the children have the enormous impact on the child’s growth and development. It is for this reason therefore that there should be the best setting that enables the infants and the toddlers to undergo positive development (Wortham & Hardin, 2015). The quality early childhood program should consequently provide a nurturing environment, safe and it should also promote the physical, social, intellectual a well as the emotional development of the children.
While developing the early childhood program and the development of the curriculum, the staff, the parent and the relevant people representing the community must be included. It is important for the parents with children of this age to be educated on how to handle and to be taught on the kind of environment that they should create for better development of their children. All the stakeholders must play their role well to ensure that quality setting for the best development of the toddlers and infants is created.
Adopting an education philosophy that spearheads the optimal learning to be stronger and more natural is what can be done by the teacher. The curriculum should include the aspects that make the child to be moved and motivated to proceed with learning.

Such curriculum should be providing active learning experiences, should be able to utilize the homes natural environment, should challenge the child within his/her potential, and it should promote healthy development and learning.
Teachers have a role in the development of curriculum and the learning centers. They are required to develop the learning centers that promote optimal learning. Teachers must, therefore, understand the child’s development. Learning theories will guide them in utilizing the class space. The age of the child in the classroom will guide the teacher in making an educational decision such as the arrangement and the selection of the materials to use in the class. Their needs, interests, and abilities must also be considered. The organization of a learning center suitable for curriculum implementation should be as follows;
For infants and toddlers, the center should be organized into used areas that are the indoor and the outdoor space areas. This can be by using tables, short shelves, transparent dividers to create a play center, a reading and a listening area, a construction center and even a wet center. Both the activities that are done indoors and outdoors should be keenly observed by the teachers. The focus should not only be on the indoor activities. Actions done outside such as climbing and jumping, painting, playing in sand and water, growing flowers and vegetables in a garden and storytelling are very crucial in the development of the child. This is because this particular environment instills passion in every child to ask questions, to explore and care for the environment.
Early childhood educators are expected to have full knowledge of the theories of learning that will equip them with them with skills of implementing the curriculum accordingly. They should be patient enough and tolerant of the children’s behavior and actions. He/she should deal with such in a professional way such that the child remains to learn and get adequate and appropriate corrections. They are expected to guide, teach and impart positive skills and attitudes to the infants and the toddlers. This is through the implementation of the curriculum and programs that promote the development of the child, physically, socially, intellectually and emotionally. Early childhood educators play a significant role and therefore they must be qualified and must be qualified and must be having relevant kills.
Interactions and relationships with children and their families are important for an educator. Partnering with the child’s parents is very important since the child will be able to see important people in their lives working together. This creates a very safe environment where they grow and learn. Parents understand their children better than educators. Educators should, therefore, encourage the parents to share information and knowledge about their children to create an environment that is more rewarding to the child. An educator is therefore required to be honest and has open communication with parents (Wortham, 2009). This can be done through giving opportunities to the family to participate, keep the parents well informed, giving positive feedback and also responding to the request for the information positively and at the best of their ability.
An educator can ask the family members to give reports on their evaluation and observation of their child. The educator, in turn, will also share his/ her views about the child’s progress. In doing this, a good relationship is cemented between the teacher or educator and the parent of the child. This is because everyone will be free to raise any concern about the child and his/her progress. The problems, issues accomplishments as well as the joys and the strength of the child, will be shared. There will also be the interpretation together with the family members of the progress of the child from development approach so that the parent can be able to understand and appreciate the development of the child over a specified period.
The teacher may also respond to a meeting that is called by the parent. The teacher should not be the only one calling the meeting. It reaches a point where the parents may wish to share some concerns about the child. The teacher is required therefore to prepare early and may provide a sample agenda and ask them to modify their needs. During the meeting, the teacher should make the parent be comfortable le and ask them to speak out their concerns and listen to them keenly. By doing so, the parent will be able to speak out the concerns without fear. Ask the parent to give his/her opinion on how to deal with issues raised. After coming up with the solution to the problem a plan of action is created together and also follows up meetings to monitor the progress is done. By doing so, the early childhood educator will have established a compelling relationship with the parent of the child, and it is likely to yield fruits and will have a positive impact to the growth and development of that particular child.
In conclusion, early childhood education should be well organized for it has a significant impact on the child in his/her later age. When the child is brought up well socially, physically and even emotionally/ he grows to be a responsible person well equipped with necessary knowledge and attitude towards life. This is an excellent achievement for an early childhood educator. All the stakeholders have their role that they must play to realize the success of this. The curriculum developed on the other hand should be the best so that it contributes to molding the children accordingly.

References
Wortham, S. C. (2009). Early childhood curriculum: Developmental bases for learning and teaching. Pearson College Division.
Wortham, S. C., & Hardin, B. J. (2015). Assessment in early childhood education. Pearson.