Do we really need childhood education?

@dandan07 (1906)
China
September 1, 2011 8:29pm CST
Do not let your children lose at the beginning of life. It is a famous sentence in China, and it makes more and more parents make their children receive education as early as possible. One of my mother's co-workers has send her daughter to the childhood education center to learn poets, English and Math while her daughter is only 2 year old now. It seems that the childhood education makes her feel better, for now her daughter can recite more than 50 posts and can speak several English sentences. I think when I was two, I can hardly express well in my mother language, it is quite impossible for me to learn so much things in that age. But I really doubt about is there any necessary to make children study in such a early age, I know children learns faster when they are young, but too early may make them lose the interests of study and ruin their creative ability.
3 people like this
15 responses
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
2 Sep 11
In the world children begin school at different ages like in my home country age 4 but legally age 5. I know that in many countries learning begins very early like age 2. The lady that sends her 2 year old daughter to the child education center surprises me. By age 6 she could lose all interest I believe. I think that a child should pay at age 2 to 3 years old. I think learning a foreign language at a young age has its advantages but I am thinking age 3 to 4 years old. I think age 2 is too young.
2 people like this
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
5 Sep 11
The school age for children in my country is 7. But it seems that parents do not think so. So to meet the need, some kindergarten begin to teach children English, Math and some other subjects. The age of the children to the kindergarten is 4, and when they reach the age of 7 , they will go to the element school to receive a form education.Some parents want their children to be tiop student in the element school, they prefer choose some bilingual kindergarten.That I know several years before. But now as I find that education can begin at the age of 2, and some parents let their children learn playing piano, violin and other musical instrument at that age too. I feel that it seems that I am out of time now.
@Absinto (2385)
• Portugal
2 Sep 11
I do believe in early education, there is no harm in that but there are limits to "early". A 2 year old child is too young to be learning so much. It is true that a child can learn more things at a faster level and remember for quite sometime but not at this age. The best age to start their education is around 5 or 6. It is best. They can speak better and have more control on what they do. Also when it comes to education they should have a big variety of subjects so that when the child grows, she/he can choose what they like or what they are better at. Some parents tend to give a certain education and they try to mold their child into a model son and they basicly trace their own future when it should be them deciding. Usually children that dont have the option to choose their future, tend to get lost and end up having various problems.
2 people like this
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
5 Sep 11
Many people worry that if they do not make the choice for their children at the early age, their children may fall behind, tend to get lose and have many problems. So the parents try to choice a good for their children. But here in my country, I think the good ways are all the same. Being the top student in the class, going to the best high school , entering the famous university and getting a good job. But I think their parents just want their children become a good tool for us to use. They do not think that their children may want to be a person who prefer using tools. So in many times, after their grow up, they do not like the way their parents choose for them, but they may lose the ability to make a choice by themselves.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
2 Sep 11
Some kids shows interest with many things at an early age. It is a growing process that kids are becoming too curious with things as they grow up. Some parents like their kids to start school at an early age as it is consider as the developing stage. So, it depends upon the kid and the parents. have a good day jaiho®
1 person likes this
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
3 Sep 11
Different parents will make different decisions. But it seems that those who do not have high education prefer to have their children have early education here, while those with Bachelor Degree or above think their children should play more and believe the school is the suitable time for children to begin their study. I think to former ones, they realize that education will have a great effect on people's life. They want their children better than others, so they think receive an early education is a way to win at the beginning. While may be the later ones think happy childhood is much more important than knowledge. Maybe both of them want to get some compensation from their children.
1 person likes this
@picjim (3002)
• India
2 Sep 11
I had the same thoughts as you.I thought against rushing my children early into a formal education.But there are many whom i know who have taught their children a lot from a young age.I used to follow the advise of a well educated uncle of mine who would say in some countries they don't stress on education at an early age but these same children are given a higher workload once they are older and do reasonably well.I quite agree with you if we put more load on the younger ones it could impair their creative ability and they could look on studies as a burden.
1 person likes this
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
3 Sep 11
From my own experience of study, I find that the most important things I have learn is the good habits formed in an early age and how to learn new things by yourself in the college. Actually my element school is the worst in my city, but our teacher taught us many things about natural. So after that i try to find books and TV programs to know more about it. In the college, professors think that in modern time know how to learn something is more important than learn something. So they usually give us topics and make us discussing in the class. I think at a early age, raising the interest and forming good habit is much more important than learn something.
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
2 Sep 11
Before answering this question, I think we'd better define the "lose" at first. I don't think there should be a match among the children. The child who have the most knowledge is not the winner of match. I used to see a survey which showed that people who got medium results in the school are more likely to have successful careers than those who used to be excellent students. In my view, good character is much important than good study result. If the parents give too much pressure on their children, they may not realize the negative effect. Why not give the happy childhood back to the children?
1 person likes this
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
5 Sep 11
Yes, we should defined what is lose first then to make sure our children do not lose. But few parents think about the question before they set out to do something. My mother think there is no stupid children in the world, but having some can not be educated in a suitable way. I think I am quite lucky to have a mother like her. Though I am the bottoms ones in the element school, my mother never give me up, she really have a great pressure form other peoples I know. I prefer spent the weekends in the parks and watched tv in the evening. My mother did not force to study like other children . But after I entering the high school, things changed, I feel that I really want to know something, so I learn faster and do a good job there.
2 Sep 11
I think early childhood education is necessary,but whether it should start as early as age two,is open to question. T think the education during adolescence and university is equally important.In the news,we often can see musicians,writers,of course ,including athletes,they success before 20 years old.Their parents must have some special education or Training plan.It works.
1 person likes this
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
5 Sep 11
I think so. Some parents must have some special education skills to make their children to be success at a early age. But many of us do not have that, and we still wish we can have a child like this. So it gives our children a great pressure, and sometimes it may ruin our children. So I think for most parents is to educate their children to be a normal person, if their children do not like to be a normal one, they can find their own way to be outstanding.
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
2 Sep 11
I think that the earlier the education the better. On that note though, drilling their little minds with things such as poets and math and such is a bit much. I have a 5 year old step daughter. She was born premature but never showed any signs of delay. Her parents have not worked with her on the basics of colors and shapes and numbers until this year, the year of kindergarden. This is sad. She is now in all-day kindergarden because she ranked 10 out of 29 on the testing scale. She is a smart child but not knowing the basics has pretty much left her behind. I think if she had been put in preschool at the age of two she would have been testing higher. Let kids be kids is what i say, and at such a young age, they learn so much or should. I truly believe that if you teach them while they are young and watch their progress they have an advantage. As far as the bigger subjects, I think those can wait. My 8 year old has more homework now in 3rd grade than what I did as a Freshman in high school. It's sad.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71942)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Sep 11
The reality of the situation is, many people understmiate the power of children. While force is a concern, children learn good values and will be more well-rounded as they age. I do not agree that early learning is deteramental to a child. Each child is different and he or she learns at their own pace. And, if the child is excelling, then why hold them back? Children understand themselves far better then their parents and they should be given oppertunitys to grow and learn at their own pace. If a child shows a tallent at an early age, why not see where it can lead. Sure you'll have your ups and downs, but who doesn't?
1 person likes this
• Romania
2 Sep 11
Childhood education is one of the most important part in somebody's life, but when things tend to cross the limit that's not good at all. From my point of view you can't put your kid when it's only 2 years old to learn math because is wrong. At that age he should play with toys and building sand castles in order to evolve as a normal child.
1 person likes this
@Rosa26 (2618)
• United States
2 Sep 11
I think that if we can send the child to a chilhood then do it because the difference between a child that goes to a child hood an a child that doesn't goes is big. I was working in a childhood and it was amazing seing how children two years could learn spanish and english at the same time, how ever I think that the best teacher a child can have is the mother. So if you don't have the money to send the child to a childhood you can do it too.
1 person likes this
@Harmonics (251)
• Philippines
2 Sep 11
Being educated is indeed an important facet of life. It is important to learn at an early certain knowledge or skills that would play an important role in our personality development and would be helpful when we grow up. For example, many of us here learn to read and write at a young age and this proved to be very helpful when we started attending school. However, this doesn't mean that every kind of education is practical, particularly with very young children. It is true that as a child, they have the ability to absorb information quickly, but it would be very hard for the child to make him learn every information that the parent wants him to learn. I was surprised actually when I read from one article a child 5 to six years old being taught calculus. Well, I will not try to tell what a parent should and should not teach to their child as far as academics is concerned. That will be their prerogative. Personally speaking, I would rather focus my teaching on values and character development so even as a child I can prepare him to the reality of the world. Academics will have its proper time for him. As a child, I'll let him enjoy his childhood.
1 person likes this
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
2 Sep 11
I think it's good for children to start learning from a young age because they are generally curious about things (and so it's a good time to cultivate their interest in learning) and they tend to retain what they learn easily. However, for children to start learning at the age of 2 is too early. I think the ideal age should be around 5 or 6 yrs old. I am against depriving children of their childhood. By keeping them busy studying, they will end up not enjoying their childhood. I don't think anyone has the right to deprive children in this way.
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
4 Sep 11
It's said that your brain is most active when you are very young and the first few years of life are the most critical part of life as far as the ways you learn, grow up and preceive life in general. I think education in very young childeren is important so they can be more avid learners as they get older but shouldn't be done like you learned at school it should be done creativly and part of everyday life like when you go shopping they should be able to read signs and thier colors, shapes and so on
@cat003 (33)
• United States
2 Sep 11
Things have changed since I raised my children. Kids are going to preschool and day care much earlier and learning so much more.. I was amazed when my three year old grandson was showing me how to use an Ipad! I don't see anything wrong with children getting an early education as long as they are haveing fun. The secret of education is keeping the interest of the children.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
6 Sep 11
Kids - Children love to play.
I don't believe in very early education. I've seen parents sending their kids to school as early as 3 or even 2 years old and I feel it is just a waste of money. Of course they'd get some benefit like socializing with other kids and learning some songs as well but they can also learn that outside of school so why would I still spend. And besides the children when they are still too young should rather be given the freedom to just enjoy their life instead of being subjected to the hardship of waking up early to prepare for school and being separated from their Moms for some hours which most of them hate. As for me I think it is the Mom's job to teach her child at early age. A child will always feel comfortable when she is at home and it is her Mom who teaches her. Now when the child reaches the age when she is already required to go to school then he should go. Meanwhile while he is still very young to go to school just let him play and enjoy the freedom of owning his time.