So what is the duration of “Early Childhood?” Of course, it varies. This is biology after all. But for policy purposes, it is often simplified to “the first 3 years” or “the first 1,000 days.” Notice the inaccuracy creeping in? We probably need to say, “until the child goes to kindergarten,” but that age varies as well, often as late as 5 or 6.
Perhaps a better definition would be until the child’s brain is fully formed, or when the great majority of possible neurons have populated that brain. Perhaps when the neural connections are well underway or when the pruning away of unused cells and circuits has sculpted a more specialized “person.”
You get the picture: it’s just inexact. Most of all this has mostly happened by the age of 3 or 4, so let’s not forget about the child who holds up three fingers and says “I’m three.”
No matter the child’s age, we should never miss an opportunity to teach every preschool parent about the marvelous and crucial things going on inside that brain and how to help them along.
