Early Childhood

About Early Childhood

The term Early Childhood refers to children who range in age from prenatal (before birth) through kindergarten.  These first few years of life are critical because it is during this time that a great deal of physical and mental development takes place; during the first few months after conception, a baby’s brain is generating nearly ¼ million brain cells a minute!  By around 5 months of age, your baby can turn his head toward sounds, and by three, your child will pretend to write. 

These early years of life are also important because this is when a child’s ability to use language really develops.  Early language acquisition is believed to take place between the ages of 2 and 4 years, long before a child enters school.  Playing, reading, and talking with your child are important teaching tools for parents.  With this in mind, there’s no doubt that parents, then, are really their children’s first and most influential teachers, and their involvement can make a huge impact on how well a child does in school.

For more information about helping your child during these critical developmental years, contact the Indiana Partnerships Center's Early Childhood Coordinator, Lynn Silvey, at: earlychildhood@fscp.org, or call us at: 317.205.2595/1.866.391.1039 (toll free).