How Early Education Programs Impact Child Development: A Longitudinal Study Based on Shanghai Kindergartens

• In Event: Emergent Research Relating to Kindergarten

Abstract

Early childhood care and education is considered as an important element to improve children’s overall development, and the cornerstone of meeting the goal of Education for All. In developing countries, pursuing high quality of early education programs is gaining more and more attention of governments, and needs more evidence-based studies to support. Our study based on a longitudinal database of 361 children from 21 classes of 12 kindergartens in Shanghai, aiming to depict the kindergarten children’s development trajectory and to discover significant factors of early education programs quality that could impact children’s development. Furthermore, we aimed to discuss potential implication of better policy and practices that could enhance the quality of ECCE as a whole in China.

Authors

• Lin Li, East China Normal University

• Zijia Li, Rutgers University