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The Early Childhood Development Association of P.E.I. has developed a new vision to allow Islanders and decision-makers to see more clearly why proper early learning is so important for children.
Last week, the association launched a five-year plan to promote affordable access to sustainable, high quality early childhood education.
"We believe it is critical that community and government and partners realize that learning begins at birth and we need to consider the full spectrum of education, and not just be looking at the public school system," said Sonya Corrigan, executive director for the Early Childhood Development Association.
She said early childhood educators have been feeling as though government and the public don't really understand what they do and why the training they have received is important to children's early learning experiences.
The curriculum offered in the Island's early learning centres is play-based. Getting people to understand what this means and why it is important has been a huge challenge, Corrigan said.
"The greatest misconception is around the value of play and how that is foundational in building the success of the later years academically and socially.
"Play is fun, but play is children's work. It's not a formal 'sit down at a desk and have the teacher take a lesson' but it is a learning environment."
A number of early childhood educators (ECEs) and operators attended the official launch of the new vision and marketing campaign.
The association has a new, interactive website and will run advertisements in The Guardian and on radio and TV to promote early childhood education.
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- reprinted from the Charlottetown Guardian