Farrah SmithCHD 204: Role of the Early Childhood EducatorAssignment: Early Childhood Education Quality PaperInstructor: Sara MulsoMay 22, 2014Early Childhood Education Quality PaperEducation Early childhood education is extremely important in the life and development of all children. There are phases of development and each phase must be managed separately as required for growth and development. Many people do not know that development begins in the prenatal phase from conception to birth, a nine-month period in which “a single-celled organism transforms into a human child with remarkable abilities to adapt to life in the surrounding world” ( Berk, 2012, page 6) and ends in adolescence. Institutions are not the primary source of learning for children. First we are taught by nature and nurture. By nature, “there is hereditary information that we receive from our parents at conception” (Berk, 2012, p. 9) and nurture is “the complex forces of the physical and social world that influence our biological structure” (Berk , 2012, page 9). Institutionalized learning normally begins in early childhood, from ages two to six. During this period, “thought and language expand at an astonishing rate” (Berk, 2012, p. 6). This is a time when most children “separate themselves from individual care for the first time” (Rosenberg, n/d) by moving from caretaker at home to an outside setting. An important feature of an early childhood program would be one that promotes safety. A quality program ensures that physical and emotional safety is a top priority. The layout of the structure is such as to guarantee easy supervision of children and easy access. But...... middle of paper ......promote safety, learning, socialization and family involvement. Choosing the right early childhood program is the foundational foundation of a child's future, secondary only to that of the first guardian, who has been established in the home.REFERENCESBerk, L. (2012). Infants and children: from the prenatal period to middle childhood. Seventh Edition National Education Association: Early Childhood Education Research and Recommendations. Retrieved 5/21/14. http://www.nea.org/home/18163.htmRosenberg, J. (n/d) The Parents League of New York. What makes a quality early childhood program. Retrieved 5/20/13. http://www.parentsleague.org/publications/selected_articles/what_makes_a_quality_early_childhood_program/index.aspx U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved 5/20/14. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about