Early years education skill sets

This morning our son went to the bathroom, used the toilet, changed his nappy pants, changed from his pj's to his day clothes,and his trousers were on the right way round. He went downstairs and poured himself a glass of milk. 

You may think, and? 

He's about to enter year 1 in a week's time. You would expect this of him.

These are, in fact, early years education skill sets.

Aged 5 years and one month, he is officially within the early years education sector....yet he's been within the official schooling age for a year and about to start his second.

This blurring between early years and official schooling can add unnecessary pressure to some children, and parents for that matter who are rushing to have their children ready for school....when they may not be physically or mentally ready for that next step. 

Interestingly, the LA does not recognise children as official school age until 5, and some parents do ask for a later enrollment for school.

It can make all the difference. 

Some children will have happily completed their early years education well before the age of five. This is not everyone's experience. 

Xander has been working hard on his fine motor development skills this past year alongside his cognitive, academic education.

You can and should continue early years education for as long as they individually need it. They will become stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically, and thank you for it further down their academic journey. It can co exist alongside academic education. 

They graduate from early years when they're individually ready, when their ability dictates....not their age.

The current school system may be rushing them, but it's for you and more importantly them, to decide the pace. Some children walk aged nine months, others they're 2.5yrs old, some are chatter boxes by two years old, others prefer to observe and learn from their environment. Their development is as individual as their personality. 

I didn't deem Xander a failure because at a 1.5yrs old he could barely sit up unattended, comparing him to his sister who walked on her 1st birthday and was chatting away holding tea parties at age 1.5years old. They're on their own paths. 

He could read at the age of two but couldn't paint....was I meant to tell him he shouldn't be reading and he should be concentrating on his painting? The medical team had plenty to say on this matter. "He can't be reading. It's not possible."

Xander proceeded to flawlessly read their name tag to them. He also knew what words meant. He has hyperlexia. Just because physically he was behind...it did not mean he wasn't blessed with other talents.

The medical team may have been harsh with him, failing him on his early years skillsets when he was only two years old....three years later he's still in early years, and can draw a vaguely recognisable house! So what, he's not an artist yet. He prefers to work on his life skills which will gain him independence (one of the ultimate goals from early years education....) 

When they understand who they are, their world around them, can independently perform life skills without their parents, have a sense of personal responsibility, have started to grasp transferable skillsets, and most importantly hold self confidence, and believe in themselves ....early years education can be considered to have reached a natural end.

Xander's had a busy five years, from fighting for his life to explaining how the blood cells work through the educational aid of Lego, as well as fighting to achieve every single fine and gross motor skill to the best of his personal ability.

Every child has their own story.

Let them live it.