Early childhood education worth the investment
Vancouver Island News Group -- Cowichan News Leader And Pictorial
October 27, 2007
By: Janet Cundall, Shawnigan Lake

Dear editor

Dyslexia, autism, speech delay -- whatever the learning challenges, doctors always recommend early intervention. Research shows that in the case of dyslexia, intervention by age five is 10 times cheaper than intervening five or 10 years later, not to mention the saving of self-esteem. Early intervention requires multi-sensory learning materials and trained, experienced staff so the early childhood educators and their facilities are crucial.

OECD reported Canada as the least supportive to early childhood education out of 14 developed countries. The wages are so low for early childhood educators that staff shortages are restricting provision; in the Cowichan Valley only 50 per cent of required spaces are available. Parents who most need childcare are those on tight incomes so that both parents must work to pay the bills; they cannot afford to pay higher child care costs.

When parents can afford to have a stay-at-home parent for the family, they may not be able to provide their child with the social experiences of sharing and interacting with other children, nor the multisensory equipment for early intervention. They not have the experience or training that are available in a community licensed child care facility. Behaviour and learning challenges are the issues that prevent good teachers in schools from doing the best job they can; thus children without learning challenges may still be affected by those who required early intervention.

For the betterment of all society, it is important the government considers how to ensure early childhood educators are paid fairly and supported in their training and multi-sensory materials for intervention.