Early childhood refers to the period of a child's life from birth until they are about 8 years old. But, preschool is a type of program that's designed for kids between the ages of 3 and 5. The idea is to help prepare them for kindergarten by providing a learning environment that supports their development and trains them to follow a schedule. So basically, early childhood covers a wider range of children's ages, while preschool is a specific program for younger children to help get them ready for school.