Tips and resources to support children birth to age five
Benefits of Early Learning?
Every day I stumble upon a new research, article or study about the benefits of early childhood education. However, I'm aware that some people still find early learning questionable, debatable and even unnecessary. Let's fill this forum with reliable facts and findings about early learning to enlighten the skeptics.
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2006: Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise
A RAND Corporation study issued in 2006 says well-designed programs for disadvantaged children age 4 and younger can produce economic benefits ranging from $1.26 to $17 for each $1 spent on the programs.
The report by RAND Labor and Population says effective early childhood programs return more to society in benefits than they cost, by enabling youngsters to lead more successful lives and be less dependent on future government assistance. Researchers say this is because such programs help children improve their thinking skills, do better in school and develop socially.
The report says high-quality early childhood programs can keep children out of expensive special education programs; reduce the number of students who fail and must repeat a grade in school; increase high school graduation rates; reduce juvenile crime; reduce the number of youngsters who wind up on welfare as adults; increase the number of students who go to college; and help adults who participated in the programs as children get better jobs and earn higher incomes.
The RAND study focused on three types of early childhood programs that are typically called intervention programs and target children who need help because of several factors – such as living in poverty or in a single-parent household. Examples of intervention programs are:
* Parent education and child development services starting as early as the prenatal period – such as home visits by trained nurses who work with families.
* Center-based programs starting anywhere from soon after a child's birth to one or two years before kindergarten entry – such as Early Head Start and Head Start.
* A combination of the home visits or parent education with center-based programs.
To learn more:
Read the full report
Read the Research Brief: Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interve...
Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions
© 2012 Created by Foundation for Early Learning.
