Early childhood education (ECE) is the education and care of young children in specialized settings before they enter elementary school.
High-quality early childhood education programs prepare students for a lifetime of learning. ECE can pave the way for overall health and nutrition, academic success, and social-emotional development.
Early Childhood Matters
From birth, children continually experience and learn from the world around them. According to Harvard University’s Center for Child Development, 90% of a child’s brain development takes place by the age of five.
Early childhood centers provide high-quality spaces for children to learn, grow, and socialize under the guidance of trained early childhood educators. Children in high-quality early childhood environments are four times more likely to graduate from high school or college.
What Age is Early Childhood?
Early childhood age typically ranges from birth to up to 8 years.
Early childhood education focuses on the critical period of growth and brain development when children learn foundational and behavioral skills.

Early Childhood Development
The highest developmental time in a child’s learning is during the first five years. The initial months and years of life are critical to cognitive development, which can affect the level of success and well-being the child experiences later in life. Parents and early childhood caregivers can play a key role in supporting this development.
What is cognitive development in early childhood?
A child’s early cognitive development includes building language, numeracy, and pre-reading skills. This development begins at birth when the brain acquires a tremendous amount of information.

General Stages of Cognitive Development
High-quality early childhood learning supports early stages of cognitive development through play, interaction, and introductions to new people and environments.
Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 Years)
- Birth to 3 months: Babies begin to use motor skills, react to noises, and begin to focus their eyes on faces.
- 3-6 months: Babies start to show personality and may begin to act more socially. They smile, babble, reach for objects, and become more vocal.
- Year 1: Babies show increased movement and heightened curiosity, while improving hand-eye coordination.
- Near age 2: Toddlers start to behave like the people they see around them. They learn to use and understand more words and attempt to walk independently.
- Year 2: Toddlers improve communication and motor skills. They can start using short sentences and walking more freely.
Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 Years)
- Years 2-7: Children engage in dramatic play and improvisation using imaginative and realistic thinking.
- This type of play leads to “metacognition,” which is the awareness and monitoring of one’s own thinking.
What is Play-Based Learning?

Play-based learning is learning while at play. Play-based learning consists of two different types of play: free play directed by the children themselves, and guided play directed by a teacher or caregiver.
Babies learn through playing Peek-a-boo, discovering toys with different textures and colors, listening to songs, and hearing the sounds of language. Young toddlers explore their world through running, climbing, and dancing. They learn to play games that teach cooperation and self-confidence, and they practice hand-eye coordination with creative activities like finger painting and play dough. Older toddlers become more autonomous playing games using their imagination like dressing up or acting situations with dolls or animal figurines.
Outdoor Learning Spaces
One play-based teaching strategy involves outdoor learning spaces. Outdoor spaces increase physical activity and connection with nature.
Early childhood educators can move their lessons outside to engage in growing vegetable gardens, planting fruit trees, following looping pathways, and participating in other outside activities. These instructional strategies promote physical activity, food awareness, motor skills, and social development.
Early Childhood Educators
Early childhood teachers play a crucial role in creating spaces where children can engage in playful learning. ECE educators provide the content and skills children need for future success.
High-quality ECE teachers use professional knowledge of how children develop and learn, knowledge of individual children, and understanding of social and cultural contexts to offer a range of learning experiences.
Educators can strategically target playful learning using games and guided play to use playful learning as a tool for how children naturally learn. The playful learning pedagogical approach allows teachers to help children attain curricular goals by offering an equitable way of engaging children and increasing access to participation. When topics are culturally relevant to children, they can better identify with the lesson. Thus, the learning becomes natural.

Early Childhood Intervention
What is Early Intervention?
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide Texas Health and Human Services Commission program for families with children from birth to 36 months with developmental delays, disabilities, or certain medical diagnoses that may impact development.
How Does My Child Qualify for ECI Services?
Eligibility for Early Intervention- Birth to 36 months: To be eligible for ECI services your child must meet one of the following three criteria:
- Medically Diagnosed Condition – If your child has a medically diagnosed condition that is likely to cause a developmental delay, they can qualify for ECI services.
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing or Blind or Visually Impaired – Any child who has been identified as deaf or hard of hearing or as blind or visually impaired qualifies for ECI. This is determined by a team that includes certified staff from your local independent school district.
- Developmental Delay – A child with a developmental delay of at least 25% in one or more of the following areas qualifies for ECI services: social-emotional, adaptive and self-help, communication, or motor or cognition.
Early Intervention for ages 3+: If your child is 3 or older, they may be eligible for early child intervention services from your local school district. You can make a referral for assessment by contacting your local school district’s director of special education.
San Antonio Early Childhood Education

San Antonio preschools and ECE centers play a vital role in child development for young learners in the community. Early childhood education programs can impact San Antonio children in numerous ways, ensuring a more dependable workforce and a vital economy in the future.
Across San Antonio and surrounding areas, school districts are enrolling 3- and 4-year-olds for public half-day Pre-K and full-day Pre-K classes. Check eligibility here: Early Matters SA- Pre K Programs in San Antonio- Eligibility
Early Childhood Advocacy
If you are interested in advocating for early childhood, there are many ways to get started.
- Identify your representatives at the local, state, and federal levels. You can track your Representatives’ committees, votes, and priorities.
- Reach out to them! Call their offices or send them an email introducing yourself and share why early childhood is important to you.
- Track bills related to the early childhood field to see how they may impact you or your community.
- Attend local and state advocacy events like community education rallies.
Sources and Additional Early Childhood Resources
UNESCO- What is Early Childhood Education
Child Care Resource Center- Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
Health and Human Services- Early Intervention
Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development- Play Based Learning
TEA- Outdoor Learning Environments
NAEYC- The Power of Playful Learning