Early Childhood Education: Balancing Expectations and What Young Learners Really Need

Summary: What does "education" mean for our youngest learners? The first years of school are as important for an educated population as any other period, perhaps more. With the current focus on standards and academic achievement, is learning and testing coming too early? Curriculum and assessment should be based on the best knowledge of theory and research about how children develop and learn with attention given to individual children's needs and interests in a group in relation to program goals.