Addressing early childhood education issues

Any educator will tell you that when it comes to student behavior, the pandemic is not over yet, especially when it comes to early education. The upheaval of the past few years has significantly affected kindergarten and preschool students, leading to observable declines in self-regulation, social skills, and language development.

Becca Carter Ed., a preschool instructional specialist at Virginia Beach City Public Schools, sees it every day. eSchool News spoke with her and Srikar Dronam, vice president of product innovation, at Hatch Early Learning, Inc. Both experts stress the importance of addressing these issues through better early childhood education. Listen:

Topics include:

1. Screen time: Increased screen time during distance learning has had mixed effects. While technology is critical, its use needs to be balanced to prevent it from becoming a crutch. Strategies include limiting screen time and focusing on hands-on learning experiences.
2. Teacher and staff adaptations: Educators have had to adapt their methods to accommodate increased screen use and varying levels of student readiness. Professional development focuses on appropriate use of technology and re-adopting developmentally appropriate practices.
3. Family Engagement: The role of families has become more important as parents become more involved in their children’s learning thanks to distance learning. Effective parent-teacher engagement and support is critical for continued learning and behavioral development.
4. Future Outlook: Both Shrinker and her colleague are optimistic about the recovery and advancement of early childhood education. They advocate for expanding preschool opportunities and using technology in developmentally appropriate ways to support children's long-term success.

Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with more than 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print and in-person. He is an acclaimed writer, editor and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology. Kevin can be reached at [email protected]

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