Welcome to the Early Childhood blog! We have had an in-house blog for some time now to enable us to share ideas with our Early Childhood students at the Open University. However, we have now decided we would like to dialogue with a much wider audience. All of us, who have a professional and academic interest in the key issues around early childhood, know that there has never been a more important time to discuss them – so let’s get talking!
The author of the blog this month is Jo Josephidou a lecturer in Early Childhood. She writes…….
Here on the Early Childhood team we were interested to note that the Duchess of Cambridge has recently launched a campaign, along with The Royal Foundation, entitled 5 Big Questions. This is a short survey to find out what parents, practitioners, academics and other interested members of society, are the key things to get right for the very youngest children in the UK.
Why is it important that these questions are being asked?
For me, three things stand out, all interlinked to impact on the trajectories of these young lives. Firstly, there is the well documented issue around children’s wellbeing and happiness, then there is the impact of poverty, finally many would argue that the schoolification of young children’s lives, is both harmful and inappropriate. These three aspects, viewed against the backdrop of a perceived ‘harsh and uncaring ethos’ apparent in British society and policy, paint a dismal picture for many young children. The Duchess of Cambridge has such a high media profile that we hope that when her questions are responded to, then policy makers, politicians and wider society will sit up and take notice. Certainly, the aim of the survey is to ‘bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come’.
What are the key issues?
What do you think the key issues are? The final question on the survey asks: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your views on the early years of childhood?
My own response to this question highlights a belief that we put too much pressure on young children too soon. We should be supporting them in their emotional development rather than getting them to read and write before they are ready. Parents, too, are pressured to return to work too soon when they should be supported to stay at home, if indeed this is what they wish to do. Furthermore, there needs to be a much greater focus on quality in early years settings with knowledgeable and skilled adults, who are paid a good salary, to care, nurture and support the development of the very youngest children.
So that’s what I think…. but what about you? Please don’t forget to respond to the survey; it should only take you a few minutes and it is so important that all of us with a parental, professional and academic interest around issues for young children make our voices heard in speaking up for them.
Let us know that you responded, and what you said, in the comments box below……….