Even though adults were once children themselves, adults can forget how inquisitive and quick to learn children are. Too often, people also make the mistake of viewing early childhood education through adult lenses, failing to appreciate the unique capabilities of young learners. While it’s true that preschool-age children have yet to gain the wisdom and experience of older learners, their capacity to absorb and process information is at its very peak.
Parents who recognize this early advantage and act on it are providing their children with serious lifelong advantages. A metastudy of decades of early childhood research published in 2021 demonstrates a strong link between early maths education and a long list of benefits, including better reading skills and executive functioning. A 2011 study covering early science education also indicates similar benefits. Overall, children who learn maths and science subjects earlier than typically offered in mainstream schools are also more likely to have above-average academic performance throughout their school life. As numerous educators would tell you, better academic performance tends to correlate with better college and job prospects later in life.
Fortunately, parents with small children in Singapore have several options available for early maths and science education. When choosing a preschool in the Lion City, expat parents can opt for a global international school in Singapore that specifically caters to their community. While this article has already laid out some of the overarching reasons to prioritize schools that offer these subjects, it helps to further explore the benefits of early math and science education in detail:
Being able to analyze problems and efficiently solve them gives your child a very real advantage. If you want your child to have an early start in evidence-based problem-solving, then maths and science education is the way to go. These subjects inculcate the importance of handling problems methodically and logically, a value that will serve your child well for the rest of their life.
Maths and science can provide a solid framework through which children make sense of the world around them. If they do not have maths or science as a foundation, they will more often interpret their surroundings based on authority and unfounded beliefs, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
Through early maths and science learning, your child can start valuing concepts like cause and effect. Over time, they may begin to navigate the world with confidence and a willingness to question and explore.
Study after study confirms what most science educators have known all along: that teaching kids maths and science subjects early correlates with better performance throughout the academic continuum.
There are many possible reasons why this might be but early exposure likely helps set vital maths and science concepts in children’s brains in much the same way that childhood exposure to foreign languages tends to rapidly result in language mastery. Early exposure makes these subjects a foundational part of the algorithm that drives children’s brains, giving them a fuller understanding of the various phenomena that maths and science describe.
Early exposure to maths and science sets the stage for later success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, opening more doors for your child. If you want to steer your child towards a future in STEM, encouraging early exposure is the best way to go. Indeed, a 2016 study of American children shows that there is a very strong correlation between early childhood maths and science exposure and a strong interest in STEM, later in life.
Even if your child ultimately chooses to enter a STEM course in college, there is no doubt that all college courses and jobs will require a higher level of technical literacy in the future. This means that early science and maths education will still benefit your child, even if they choose non-STEM careers.
How You Can Foster a Love of Maths and Science in Your Child
Sending your child to a school that offers holistic education with a STEM emphasis will doubtlessly help their chances of developing a positive attitude towards maths and science. However, for the best results, you’ll want to continue encouraging a positive view of these subjects in the home. Keep your child interested in maths and science by doing the following:
Unlocking Your Child’s Potential with Early Maths and Science Education
Your child’s brain is at its most active during their early years, so it’s best to not delay their introduction to maths and science, if at all possible. If you can provide your child with the right maths and science exposure during preschool, you will have given them a significant favor. Armed with a firmer foundation in these subjects, they should enjoy smoother progress in their education and their future careers.
