Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/219723
24 Opinion maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2013 Evarist Bartolo The importance of early learning W e have a tendency of expecting our children to learn entirely through schooling. Schools and teachers are very important in the upbringing of our children, but pre-school is equally important. Parents have a crucial role in preparing their children from a very early age. Early childhood education, through oral language and vocabulary, prepares our children better for the challenges that they face when entering school. Language-Gap studies have been updated over the years. Whereas two decades ago it was found that certain children whose parents were deemed as 'professionals' had heard millions more words than Children should be encouraged to ask questions while reading books and should be given the necessary help to identify words during playtime those children with less educated parents, it has now been established that a language gap exists as early as 18 months. The gap is real and it is very hard to undo. This is why early childhood education is so important. The need of pre-kindergarten classes is being partially addressed with the introduction of more childcare centres and through easier accessibility to existing centres. Through these centres, early childhood providers should ensure that children can go to kindergarten ready. In earlier reports, literacy experts have documented a connection between a child's early vocabulary and later success in reading comprehension. David Dickinson, a professor of education at Vanderbilt University in the USA, says that excessive use of teaching aids, such as flash cards, could have a negative effect on early learning. He says that, "the worst thing that could come out of this interest in vocabulary, is the use of flash cards with pictures making children memorise a thousand words". Literacy experts in fact emphasise the importance of natural conversation with children. Children should be encouraged to ask questions while reading books and should be given the necessary Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security Office of the Refugee Commissioner European Refugee Fund 2013 The Office of the Refugee Commissioner is seeking the services (on a service-based contract) of a Project Officer and two Administrative Officers for two projects with a co-financing rate of 75% from EU funds. Project Officer: Responsible for the implementation of the project, and Administrative Officers: Assisting the Project Officer -To work for 40 hours per week -To work under the remits of two projects titled: 'Setting up a database for the electronic management of documentation during asylum process and issuance of new protection certificates' and 'Enhancing the Information Session Stage in the Asylum Procedure by the Setting up of Structural Facilities'. -Previous experience in a related field and/or managing EU Funds -Must own transport. Further information, including detailed terms of reference, can be obtained from the Office of the Refugee Commissioner or by e-mail to refugee-commission@gov.mt. Tender documents can be downloaded from the following links: Either http://mhas.gov.mt/en/MHAS-Information/Tenders%20-%20RFQ/Pages/default.aspx or http://mhas.gov.mt and click on 'Tenders'. th Submissions will be received by not later than noon (CET) of Monday 16 December, 2013 at the Office of the Refugee Commissioner, 37/39, Rue D'Argens, Msida, MSD 1368. Opening hours 8:00am to 12:30pm. Late submissions will not be considered. General Programme Solidarity & Management of Migration Flows 2007-2013 European Refugee Fund (ERF) Tender part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 75% EU Funds: 25% Beneficiary Funds Sustainable Management of Migration Flows help to identify words during playtime. Children need to interact, and this should happen both at preschool and at home. Psychology and literary specialists advocate training programs for preschool teachers that include the development of parent education workshops. These programs could lead to a media campaign that offers tips and guidelines to encourage parents to interact with their children by using simple, everyday language. There is a difference between words overheard from television and adult conversations. It is increasingly evident that parents who describe products at a supermarket or who point out It is increasingly evident that parents who describe products at a supermarket or who point out shapes of road signs contribute far more to their child's literacy education shapes of road signs contribute far more to their child's literacy education. In a separate study, researchers found that there is a marked difference between words overheard by children and childdirected words. The figures vary from 670 child-directed words to as many as 12,000 words in one day. The results show that some parents engage verbally with their children more than others and these children are doing far better in language development. Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education