Good early childhood experiences do count tremendously, but providing children with an early childhood education means much more than making them smarter, earlier. Young children need meaningful learning opportunities to develop skills, competencies, a sense of self, and a foundation for learning throughout life. Our aim should be to ensure that all children reach school age with a solid foundation for learning and relating to others, and that all parents know what they can do to help their children develop. In the last decade, the United States has made important progress in recognizing the needs of young children. Businesses have made efforts to provide services to families.
Parents are increasingly interested in how best to encourage and prepare their children.
Taking to heart many of the negative messages of The Myth of the First Three Years can only set back these efforts. Our nation s youngest citizens deserve better. Raising a reader, raising a writer. Reproduction of this material is freely granted, provied credit is given to the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Return to the Full Text Parent-Resources.