The effect of early childhood education on social and emotional development of children ages 3-6 years

Abstract

This causal comparitive study examined the effect of early childhood education on social and emotional development in children ages 3-6 years old in Kwara State of Nigeria. Sixty children who were exposed to early childhood education were selected through cluster sampling from six different schools, that is, 30 boys and 30 girls. Also selected through convenient sampling technique were 60 children who were not exposed to early childhood education in the locality, that is, 30 boys and 30 girls. In all, 120 samples participated in the study. Data were obtained from the parent-child questionnaire made up of ten items on social development and ten items on emotional development. Parents reported on their observations of their childs social and emotional development. Two research hypotheses were formulated for the study. The null hypothesis were tested with students t-test statistic of independant samples at 0.05 level of significance. Overall, the research found that there was no significant effect of early childhood education on either social or emotional development. Competent and qualified early childhood educators should be recruited by both the Govemment and private school proprietors to guide and teach they pupils at this level of education so as to lay a strong foundation for each childs future career. Following these findings the study, were recommendation for Early Childhood Education in Nigeria.