It is said that 80% of the human brain is formed by the age of three. The development of intelligence is significantly influenced by external stimuli rather than genetics. Positive stimuli promote brain development, whereas negative stimuli, such as abuse, can hinder it.
Critical for brain development are the connections between neurons, known as synapses. A newborn's neurons have about 2,500 synapses, which increase to approximately 15,000 by ages two to three.
At Orchard Kinder, we believe that children who receive high-quality, small-group early childhood education develop social skills and confidence. Let's nurture the infinite potential of our children together at Orchard Kinder.
Long-term studies on the American Perry School/High Scope Program, The Chicago Child-Parent Centers Program, and The Carolina Abecedarian Preschool Program have shown that children who receive quality early childhood education reap significant long-term benefits 40 years later, such as:
Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor James Heckman of the University of Chicago supports these findings, advocating for quality early childhood education to the US government. Many studies and papers also show that quality early childhood education not only improves academic skills but also "soft skills" such as social and emotional skills over the long term. This contrasts with academically focused early childhood education programs, whose effects tend to fade after children enter elementary school.
Furthermore, Japan's policy of making early childhood education free is also planned based on these programs.
The Japnaese proverb "The soul of a three-year-old lasts till a hundred" implies that personality and abilities formed during early childhood significantly influence one's entire life. During this period, the brain is flexible and highly absorbent, and the numerous active synapses mean that education and experiences in early childhood deeply impact children's futures.
Children who receive quality early childhood education not only achieve stable incomes in the future but also exhibit lower rates of crime. The social skills and self-control developed during early childhood act as key factors leading to positive adult lives.
The greatest impact of early childhood education is not on IQ enhancement but on the development of latent abilities such as non-cognitive skills, motivation, and aspiration.
Long-term studies of the Abecedarian Project, an early childhood education program that began in the United States in 1972, have shown that the benefits of this education extend beyond merely increasing IQ. They contribute to higher attendance rates at school, increased college enrollment rates, and higher employment rates in jobs requiring specialized skills. Social benefits such as reduced teenage pregnancy rates and reduced involvement in crime have also been clearly demonstrated.
Professor James Heckman
Nobel Laureate in Economics
Vocabulary is closely linked to education. Children who start receiving early childhood education before the age of 3 show a significant difference in vocabulary compared to those who start education after turning 3. This difference highlights the significant impact of early education on a child's language development.