course material

1. Write 3-5 pages about what constitutes a high-quality early childhood
Write 3-5 pages about what constitutes a high-quality early childhood program or policy
by evaluating a current policy or policy initiative.IntroductionThe preschool years (ages 3-
5) are an exciting time of growth and change. Perhaps the greatest areas of change are
within the cognitive and language domains. The average 24-month-old has a vocabulary of
250 words and can put two words together in a simple sentence. A four-year-old can speak
in multi-word sentences; use prepositions, adjectives, and pronouns; and will, of course, ask
millions of questions.Preschoolers are also growing in terms of their ability to form
friendships, play with others, and take those initial, crucial steps toward independence.
Rather than simply playing next to another child, like a two-year-old, a four-year-old can
create a game with his peers, pretend that a box is a house, and role-play some of the
situations that play out in his daily life, like going to the grocery store or to the bank. Play is
a critical component of learning for children in this age group, as it helps them make
meaning from their worlds and extends their innate curiosity to learn.Many families begin
to consider early childhood education environments for their preschoolers. The research on
the benefits of these programs is significant. Children who attend high quality learning
programs tend to be able to resolve conflicts well, are self-regulated, and learn to trust
other adults in the school setting. Low quality settings, however, may have the opposite
effects on preschoolers’ growth and development.Note: Because the assessments in this
course move progressively through periods of child development, you are encouraged to
complete them in sequential order, 1-5.Early childhood education (birth-age eight) is at the
top of the national agenda, yet many children do not have access to the educational settings
that they need. For this assessment, write 3-5 pages about what constitutes a high-quality
early childhood program or policy by evaluating the success of an existing initiative.Address
the following:Describe the characteristics of high-quality early childhood programs.Discuss
and give examples of at least three benefits of early childhood education. Use scholarly
research findings to support your position.Apply psychological theories to a policy or policy
initiative relating to early childhood education, such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB),
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Early Intervention, Head Start, Every
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) or another program of your choosing. Include details about
how the program is implemented and what population it aims to serve.Explain how early
childhood education and policy affect the physical, social, and cognitive aspects of child
development. Use scholarly research findings to support your position.You are urged to use
the Capella Writing Center to help you develop clear and effective writing. Through the

2. Writing Center, you will be able to receive feedback on your writing, use writing resources,
discover new writing strategies, and explore different ways to draft, revise, edit, and
proofread your own work.If you wish, you may use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to
complete your assessment.Additional RequirementsWritten communication: Ensure that
your writing is free of errors that detract from the overall message.APA formatting: Format
your paper according to APA style.Length: Write 3-5 typed and double-spaced pages.Font
and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save this
learning activity to your ePortfolio.Competencies MeasuredBy successfully completing this
assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies
and assessment criteria:Competency 1: Describe physical, social, and cognitive aspects of
child development.Describe the characteristics and benefits of high-quality early childhood
programs.Explain how early childhood education and policy affect the physical, social, and
cognitive domains of child development.Competency 2: Apply psychological theories to
topics in child development.Apply psychological theories to a policy or policy initiative as it
relates to early childhood education.Competency 3: Apply scholarly research findings to
topics in child development.Apply scholarly research findings to topics in childhood
education.Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and
consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.Write coherently to
support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a
psychology professional.Use APA format and style.