Canadian Forum on Civil Justice

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2012

Abstract

In recent years in Canada, there has been growing appreciation that early childhood education (ECE) is a basic foundation for building a successful education system, competitive global economy, and a well functioning democracy. A policy of publicly funding ECE programming is, in other words, seen as a smart investment in the future. This new appreciation of ECE is evident from the fact that ECE is now integrated into our school system and early childhood educators are recognized as trained professionals, not mere childcare workers. ECE policies in Ontario are now a model of evidence-based decision-making. Early learning initiatives such as full-day kindergartens and seamless days are based on new innovative research on child development that shows the long term benefits of skills such as early literacy and self-regulation for young children. ECE is also an effective compensatory vehicle for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

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