5 Things You May Not Know About Early Childhood Education

Mikaela Campbell

McKay Student Ambassador

Early Childhood Education

When I first began the Early Childhood Education major, I was excited to learn how to teach and understand more about child development. Since then, I have realized just how much knowledge and preparation it takes to support not only children, but also their families and the communities they are part of. Here are five things you may not know about Early Childhood Education:

1.You specialize in teaching and child development: This one may not come as a surprise, but the reality did surprise me. I didn’t realize just how much I would learn about the different areas of child development, but I love it! While many of the classes you take focus on how to effectively teach young children, you’ll also take courses in human development, language development, and social or cognitive development. These classes help you understand how children learn, communicate, develop relationships, and how children are influenced by the people and environments around them.

2.Play: In every class you take, you'll hear the same thing: children need play! Play is essential for how young children learn, and you'll be incorporating play into everything you do as an Early Childhood Educator. Not only will you learn how to use play in the classroom, but you'll gain an advanced knowledge of why kids need play and help parents see the academic value of play.

3.Your first practicum will be in the preschool lab: In Early Childhood Education you'll be in the preschool or kindergarten lab at the JFSB (the building with the playground) for your first semester of practicum. For your second semester of practicum you'll be in an elementary school in a 1st-3rd grade classroom.

4.SEL learning: Social emotional learning is so important. How does a child learn to walk in a line, be patient when getting a drink, learn how to become a friend, or work through a conflict? These are skills that children need to know and as an Early Childhood professional you'll be at the center of it. It's rewarding to watch a child practice these skills and learn to thrive in their environment.

5.Observation: Much of what you do in Early Childhood Education is observation. During your time at BYU and as a teacher after you graduate you will be observing your students. This teaches you a lot about them, their family, their interests, how they interact with others, and what they know. This can help you make changes in your teaching practice to help them progress and learn.

There is so much more to discover and gain from an Early Childhood Education major! If you’re interested in learning more about the program, click here to meet with an ambassador.