Socialization Benefits of Early Childhood Education

Language, teamwork, sharing and respect some of the key socialization benefits of early childhood education.

Socialization with adults and children outside of the family forms the foundation upon which many other aspects of childhood development are established and grown over time. Exposing children to others is beneficial from a very early age, helping them to gain self-confidence and overcome any feelings of shyness.

Socialization plays an important role in the cognitive development of preschoolers. In order for a child to live successfully within our society, they must be able to interact with others in a positive and healthy manner. Therefore, it is essential that we encourage and watch over the social interactions of our children and teach them productive ways to interact with their peers and adults from a young age.

These skills must be developed over time through instruction, reinforcement and lots of practice. A child care center offers a safe, supportive space for social development with children of all ages as well as adults in the form of caregivers, volunteers and guests.

Here is a look at some of the valuable socialization benefits of early childhood education:

Language

When children have the opportunity to play and interact with other children of their own age or older, their language skills start to develop more rapidly. Spending time in a childcare setting can contribute positively to a child’s understanding of the spoken word as he or she engages in storytelling, dramatic play, or simply through conversation with others.

Teamwork

One of the great benefits of early childhood education centers is that they often offer the chance for children to work together with their peers. Many activities for preschool aged children are focused on teamwork to allow children to learn essential soft skills such as respecting the opinions of others, careful listening, equality and cooperation.

Sharing

In most child care facilities, toys and equipment must be shared among all children in the group, and if a child wants to play, they must wait for their turn. An excellent social benefit of early childhood education is that your child will begin to form an understanding of the concept of sharing, which will be modeled by caregivers to encourage cooperation and equality among children.

Respect and social skills

A daycare or preschool setting will allow children to not only learn to interact with peers, but also how to listen to authority figures outside of their parents. The social benefits of early childhood education extend beyond respect for authority to include a respect for their surroundings and belongings. This type of respect is easily taught in a child care center, where toys and supplies must be shared and cared for by all members of the group.

Though it may seem like a difficult task to teach a child some of the subtleties of social interaction such as being polite, taking turns in conversations and distinguishing both verbal and non-verbal social cues, they are not impossible to learn over time. When a child attends a child care or preschool program, they are exposed to a variety of people and different kinds of social interaction that will help them learn how to interact with others in a polite and productive manner. Ultimately, proper socialization improves child’s development and can offer a child many benefits well into their adult life.