Abstract

Early childhood education (ECE) is not only about the academic upbringing of a child. It concerns a child's strong emotional, social, cognitive, and physical character development. Early childhood education of a child starts from his birth to the moment he is admitted to school. It is the most crucial time of a child's life because it is the first time they interact with other children, teachers, parents, and other family members. Early childhood education has positively affected social aspects of educational interests such as STEM (Science et al.). In this paper, we will discuss the role of early childhood education concerning traditional and academic learning and play-based and child-centred learning. Academic traditional learning is purely academic-centred and teacher-dominant, whereas play-based or child-centred learning is designed according to the child's interests. It makes a child socially, emotionally, and academically strong. We will discuss these approaches in-depth, along with their pros and cons. With a critical analysis of which approach is better for children to enhance their learning and growth and how it can be implemented in toddlers and childcare centres.

Keywords

Early Childhood Education (ECE), Social, Academic, Emotional, Play-Based, Child-Centred, STEM.

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