Archive for Early Childhood

The Importance of Reading in Early Childhood Learning

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Early childhood development and education

Is it time to place a greater emphasis on early childhood development and education?

Richard Wendel MD, MBA

The American educational system is a favorite media target for criticism because of low test scores, subpar graduation rates, lack of teacher accountability, contracts that entrench underperforming teachers, underfunding, out-of-date technology, parental indifference and poorly motivated children. The data comparing our system with that of other developed nations is damming and we seem to be producing school dropouts and graduates with skill sets that do not match the needs of the marketplace. There are too few engineering, science and technology graduates and too many graduates with bachelor degrees in the soft liberal arts that frequently are the entry point to low paying jobs that cause graduates to bump along the poverty line with unpaid educational debt. This debt burden often delays getting married, raising a family and purchasing a home.

I believe our school systems get a bum rap and are not the primary reason our students underperform and here is why. It is widely estimated that over 80 percent of brain development in the human occurs before the age of five. Now if 80 percent of brain development occurs before age 5 with a decelerating rate of development after that, then we can assume that more than 50 percent of brain development takes place in the time interval starting in intrauterine life and ending at age two. To support this supposition, the circumference of the head of the average male at birth is 13.7 inches and at 2 years of age 19.4 inches; whereas in the male adult it is just 21-22 inches, an increases of a mere two to two and a half inches.  Intuitively, this frontal occipital circumference of the cranium correlates with the size and function of the brain.

In recent times, mandatory preschool and all day kindergarten have been given a higher priority to address and correct learning deficiencies and level the educational playing field for disadvantaged kids. In preschool, the Kindergarten Readiness Test is a good reproducible metric for evaluating intellectual skills. Most studies show improved long term academic performance with quality preschool for underprivileged children. In our inner cities, full day Kindergarten offers defined benefits as well.

The intellectual nurturing of the infant before preschool is more problematical, but probably more imperative and productive on a time weighted basis. Public dollars might produce better educational benefits if a larger share were directed toward prenatal care and the environment surrounding a child’s first two years of life.

No amount of remedial training can completely reverse the ravages of neglect during infancy. For instance, recent studies of prisoners placed in solitary confinement show that the lack of stimulation produces brain atrophy and deranged thinking. This is analogous to the effects that might be anticipated from the neglected infant.

Results from more intrusive intervention in the toddler age group are difficult to measure. How do you evaluate the toddler with rudimentary verbal skills and a limited ability to emote? How do you measure neglect in environments where there is a void in stimulation with little touching, cuddling, verbal exchange, reading, love, play and nurturing?

All the solutions to this problem that infects a sizeable segment of our society impinge upon our fundamental human rights to privacy and independence in a free society. The solutions are also stymied by religious and moral considerations as well as politics, entitlements, social justice and ignorance. Neglected infants are innocent victims and the society needs to adopt a more aggressive approach to the realization that bearing a child is a privilege that carries with it an enormous responsibility.

Our teachers and school administrators do a great job with limited resources. Most short comings in our educational system can be explained by adverse selection due to impoverished environments. To get better outputs you need to improve the quality of children entered into the system. Better child care coupled with preschool is a recipe to improve test scores and graduation rates to serve the job market. Moreover, teachers will be grateful to teach highly motivated students.

“Success by Six’ sponsored by the United Ways is an exciting program that supports a ‘whole child’ approach. It has been introduced in more than 350 cities. It monitors the home environment, access to medical care, security and adequate nutrition. Without addressing these root causes for ‘slow learning’, the cycle of underachievement and ignorance will continue to erode the American dream for millions of our children.