Positive learning outcomes are a worthwhile goal. But it should never come at the expense of the learner's social development and holistic readiness. In the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) context, taking care of a child’s mind, body, and spirit is just as important as fostering their academic readiness. Here’s why Christ-centered early education promotes all-rounded, life-ready learners.
To create a learning environment that is both thoroughly academic and distinctively Christian is a remarkable achievement. Distinctively Christian education is not about simply sprinkling some Bible in a program. Or locating a school within a church facility and having learners attend chapel sessions a few times a week.
A distinctively Christian education church recognizes the vital role of faith development in children. Armed with this knowledge, the school leadership then makes decisions based on Christian values.
Key decisions that could benefit from a Biblical worldview include curriculum development, hiring, and admission. Even so, there needs to be a balance between academic and Christian values.
Pursuing holistic development is a good way to maintain balance. The stakeholders should clearly define spiritual outcomes and design curricula that incorporate spiritual values and assess them as part of the learning outcomes.
Some of the spiritual values that a distinctively Christian ECEC center can impart in children are regarding the body as the temple, diligence, good stewardship, and living for and through Christ. But this calls for early childhood educators and caregivers to adopt a biblical worldview.
Teachers and caregivers are the “living curriculum.” They should embrace and live by the values, habits, and behaviors they want the children to adopt.
A Christian ECEC center that operates from a biblical worldview encourages all actors to view God as the foundation of truth and wisdom. Integrating Christian-centered values with academic goals should be done following best-practice. This produces children who are academically, spiritually, and life-ready.
Children grow up knowing that God is the giver of wisdom, and that out of this God-given wisdom emerges the awareness to pursue knowledge and things that please God and bring individual satisfaction. In addition, in loving Christ and developing a close relationship with Him, children learn how to love their peers.
ECEC centers are vital socialization agents. And children who grow up in Christ-centered learning environments develop a strong social foundation.
For instance, they learn that God is love; that one cannot claim to love God and then turn around and hate their neighbor. Children who are immersed in Christ-centered early education grow up knowing that having a genuine fellowship with God goes hand in hand with relating well with their peers.
It’s commonplace to encounter young learners with various developmental or learning disabilities in ECEC settings. In fact, most faith-based learning centers exist for such learners.
Welcoming learners with developmental conditions and mixing them with other children is a good gesture. But distinctively Christian ECEC goes a step further by imparting in all learners the attitude and knowledge that each one of them is created in God’s image with unique talents and gifts.
By adopting such a mindset, children with developmental challenges learn to accept (not be defined by) their limitations and lean into their strengths. This mindset also promotes an atmosphere of equality and respect among learners.
Striking a balance between thoroughly academic and distinctively Christian education programs is not easy. The good news is that neither has to suffer; that both goals can be met with a more deliberate approach. Parents who want their kids to grow in mind, body, and spirit should seek Christ-centered ECEC, not those that treat spiritual goals as an afterthought.
To create a learning environment that is both thoroughly academic and distinctively Christian is a remarkable achievement. Distinctively Christian education is not about simply sprinkling some Bible in a program. Or locating a school within a church facility and having learners attend chapel sessions a few times a week.
A distinctively Christian education church recognizes the vital role of faith development in children. Armed with this knowledge, the school leadership then makes decisions based on Christian values.
Key decisions that could benefit from a Biblical worldview include curriculum development, hiring, and admission. Even so, there needs to be a balance between academic and Christian values.
Pursuing holistic development is a good way to maintain balance. The stakeholders should clearly define spiritual outcomes and design curricula that incorporate spiritual values and assess them as part of the learning outcomes.
Some of the spiritual values that a distinctively Christian ECEC center can impart in children are regarding the body as the temple, diligence, good stewardship, and living for and through Christ. But this calls for early childhood educators and caregivers to adopt a biblical worldview.
Teachers and caregivers are the “living curriculum.” They should embrace and live by the values, habits, and behaviors they want the children to adopt.
A Christian ECEC center that operates from a biblical worldview encourages all actors to view God as the foundation of truth and wisdom. Integrating Christian-centered values with academic goals should be done following best-practice. This produces children who are academically, spiritually, and life-ready.
Children grow up knowing that God is the giver of wisdom, and that out of this God-given wisdom emerges the awareness to pursue knowledge and things that please God and bring individual satisfaction. In addition, in loving Christ and developing a close relationship with Him, children learn how to love their peers.
ECEC centers are vital socialization agents. And children who grow up in Christ-centered learning environments develop a strong social foundation.
For instance, they learn that God is love; that one cannot claim to love God and then turn around and hate their neighbor. Children who are immersed in Christ-centered early education grow up knowing that having a genuine fellowship with God goes hand in hand with relating well with their peers.
It’s commonplace to encounter young learners with various developmental or learning disabilities in ECEC settings. In fact, most faith-based learning centers exist for such learners.
Welcoming learners with developmental conditions and mixing them with other children is a good gesture. But distinctively Christian ECEC goes a step further by imparting in all learners the attitude and knowledge that each one of them is created in God’s image with unique talents and gifts.
By adopting such a mindset, children with developmental challenges learn to accept (not be defined by) their limitations and lean into their strengths. This mindset also promotes an atmosphere of equality and respect among learners.
Striking a balance between thoroughly academic and distinctively Christian education programs is not easy. The good news is that neither has to suffer; that both goals can be met with a more deliberate approach. Parents who want their kids to grow in mind, body, and spirit should seek Christ-centered ECEC, not those that treat spiritual goals as an afterthought.
