Early childhood begins at birth and extends until approximately 5 years of age.
Before entering fully into the definition of the term early childhood , it is necessary to determine the etymological origin of the two words that make it up:
-First, emanates from the Latin word primarius , which is synonymous with "in first position."
-Childhood derives from the Latin infans , which can be translated as "he who does not speak."
What is early childhood
The concept of childhood is the initial stage in the life of a human being , which begins with birth and extends until puberty . The notion is also used to name the group of people included in said age.
The adjective first , for its part, refers to what precedes the rest in a certain order . What is found first appears, exists or takes shape before any other element of the same kind.
From these two notions we can build the idea of early childhood . This stage of life can be divided into different periods according to age: early childhood is the earliest stage, that which begins with birth and lasts up to 5 years . Early childhood, in short, is the first stage in the life of a human being. However, UNESCO establishes that early childhood is the period from when a child is born until he or she reaches eight years of age.
In early childhood, all kinds of care are needed.
Importance in development
These years are key in the development and training of a person. The body and mind begin to develop their essential structures in these years and will lay the foundation for subsequent growth. An early childhood of deficiencies, with issues that prevent healthy development, will determine the subject's entire life.
From everything explained so far, it is clear that early childhood is fundamental in the existence of any person, since based on what they experience in that period their later life will be sustained. Hence, both at the family and educational level and even through different policies, this aforementioned stage in which important situations such as these take place are especially cared for and protected:
-The abilities to establish emotional relationships with other people are established.
-Communicative qualities in their different variants are encouraged and promoted.
-Basic skills such as motor skills and even language are developed.
-The bases are made clear and firm in terms of values such as tolerance, respect, effort, solidarity.
-Aspects such as the self-image that children have of themselves or their vision of the world in which they live and the people around them are consolidated.
Early childhood marks the rest of life
In other words, according to what a child receives in his early childhood ( education , food, affection, etc.), he will become a healthy adolescent and then a healthy adult capable of interacting in society.
Children who, in their early childhood, receive the necessary attention and care are more likely to grow up in good shape, get sick less and develop their aptitudes and abilities linked to language , reasoning and social bonds.