By definition, early childhood education (ECD) is the level of education prior to primary education which is a construction effort that is intended for children from birth up to age six years through provision of educational stimulation to assist the growth and development of the mind and body so that the child has readiness to enter further education, which was held in formal, nonformal, and informal.
Why early childhood education is important? Yes, because the period of early childhood is a period of gold (golden age) for child development to obtain the educational process.
Based on this research, approximately 50% of adults intelligence capability has occurred when a child aged 4 years, 80% have occurred when he was eight years old, and reached its culmination when the child was about 18 years.
This means that developments that occur within the first four years, as big as the developments in the next 14 years.
This golden period is a critical period for children, where the progress obtained in this period is very influential on the development of the next period, until adulthood. Understand, this golden period comes only once! If missing, it means that your chance has gone.
Therefore, early childhood education in the form of stimuli (stimulation) from the nearest environment is needed to optimize the ability of the child.
In short, early childhood education is one form of education that focuses on laying the foundation toward the growth and physical development (fine and gross motor coordination), intelligence (power of thought, creativity, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence), socio emotional (attitude and behavior and religion) language and communication, in accordance with the uniqueness and the stages through which the development of early childhood.
There are two purposes why the need to be held early childhood education, namely:
* The main objective: to establish a quality of Indonesian children is child grow and develop in accordance with its development level, so have the optimal readiness in entering primary education and living life in adulthood.
* Destination broadcaster: to help prepare children to reach the readiness to learn (academic) at the school.
The range of early childhood, according to Article 28 paragraph 1 of Act No.20/2003 on National Education System is 0-6 years. Meanwhile, according to study early childhood education and family science operate in several countries, the EC carried out since the age of 0-8 years.
Here’s some scope of Early Childhood Education:
* Infant (0-1 years)
* Toddler (2-3 years)
* Preschool / Kindergarten children (3-6 years)
* Early Primary School (Primary Class Start) (6-8 years)
Currently, there are already some education unit provider of Early Childhood Education, among others:
* Kindergarten (TK)
* Raudatul RA (RA)
* Bustanul RA (BA)
* Play Group (KB)
* TPA (TPA)
* A kind of early childhood care unit (SPS)
* Early Elementary Class (grades 1,2,3)
* BKB
* Integrated Health Service Posts (IHC)
* Family
* Environment
Inevitably, an early childhood education is that education is fundamental and strategic human resource development. Not surprising that many countries put a great attention to implementation of this education.
