Early school years are the most important part of a child’s life because that is when their brain is growing faster than any other time. In a country like Somalia where we are trying to rebuild everything from the ground up we have to start with the smallest citizens. This early Learning years period usually covers kids from age three to about six years old and it is when they learn how to talk properly how to share with others and how to solve simple problems. If a child stays at home until they are seven or eight they miss out on a huge chance to get ahead. Many families in Mogadishu and other cities are starting to realize that early Learning years can change the whole future of their children by giving them a strong start before they even reach grade one.
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The Big Impact of Early School Years on Future Learning
When a kid gets to experience the early Learning years in a good kindergarten they develop a love for learning that stays with them forever. Research shows that children who start school early are much less likely to drop out when they get to high school because they don’t feel lost or behind their friends. This early Learning years foundation makes it easier for them to learn how to read and write which are the two most important skills for any job in the modern world. In our local communities we need to make sure that these schools are safe and fun so that kids want to go there every single morning. If we invest in the early Learning years now we will save a lot of money later because we won’t have to deal with as many teenagers who can’t find work or who get into trouble.
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Why Teachers are the Heroes of the Early School Years
We cannot have a good system without having teachers who really understand how small children think and feel. Training teachers for the early Learning years is a very special job because it requires a lot of patience and a lot of kindness. These teachers don’t just sit at a blackboard but they play games and tell stories that help the kids understand the world around them. The early Learning years curriculum should be in our own Somali language first so that the kids feel comfortable and proud of their culture while they are learning. When a teacher does a great job during the early Learning years they are literally shaping the mind of a future doctor or a future engineer. We should celebrate these educators and give them the tools they need to succeed in every village across the nation.
Helping Parents Understand the Value of Starting Early
Sometimes it is hard to convince parents to send their little ones away from home so early but we need to show them the benefits. Early school years are not about taking the child away from the family but about adding more support to what the parents are already doing at home. If we can show mothers and fathers that their kids are happier and smarter because of the early school years they will be the first ones to support the local schools. We also need to make sure that the early school years programs are affordable for everyone even the families who don’t have a lot of money. It is a community effort to make sure that every Somali child gets the same fair chance to succeed in life starting from the very first day they walk into a classroom.
Better Health and Nutrition through Early Schooling
One of the great things about a good school for the early school years is that it can also be a place for health checks and good food. Many kids in our country struggle with not having enough vitamins but when they are in school the teachers can notice if a child is sick or hungry. A early school years center can provide a healthy snack or a lunch which helps the brain grow even stronger. This means that the early school years are doing two jobs at once by teaching the mind and protecting the body of the child. It is a win for the parents and a win for the whole country as we try to raise a new generation that is tall strong and very bright.
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Final Thoughts on Building a Better Future
We have to see that the early school years are the best investment we can ever make for the peace and the growth of Somalia. It is much better to spend money on a preschool today than to spend it on fixing problems in twenty years. Every child who gets to enjoy their early school years is a light for our future and a sign that we are moving in the right direction. Let’s keep pushing for more schools and more training so that every neighborhood has a place where our little ones can learn and grow. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and for our children that step is the first day of school.
