Why Inclusion in Early Childhood Education Is Important

By Allison Scott

What Is Early Childhood Education?

Like many other parts of life, education comes in stages. Students who are eight years old or younger are typically grouped into a stage of education called early childhood education (ECE). Usually ending when students reach the equivalent of third grade, ECE kids are primarily focused on learning the foundational knowledge they will need for future learning. When they are very young, this may include basics like numbers and counting, colors, and learning to write. From there, students will be taught reading skills, eventually, going from looking at picture books to reading short stories and then chapter books. They then work their way up to basic math and science.

Why Is Early Childhood Education Important?

Early education teachers often receive specialized training to learn how to interact, guide, and teach young children. Since they are responsible for educating and maintaining safety and order in the classroom, the work of an ECE teacher is difficult. However, being able to shape the minds of young children is a rewarding opportunity. Let's take a closer look at the benefits of early childhood education:

Inclusion in Early Childhood Education

With social interactions being a focus of students, parents, and teachers during the early years of education, it's no wonder that inclusion in early childhood education is a top priority. After all, being included in activities and group efforts allows students to build their social awareness and communication skills.

Experts agree, too. Trey Clements, MSE, of Sinclair Community College, acknowledges the impact building an inclusive relationship with students can have on the education experience for teachers: "I wish there were more of an emphasis on preservice teachers being intentional about building relationships with students. This skill set is often overlooked, but if and when acquired, the ability allows for several problematic aspects of the profession to become much more manageable."

Inclusion for Students with Disabilities

It is increasingly important that teachers spend time incorporating inclusive learning into their lesson plans. And, if necessary, make alternative assignments available for students who cannot participate in the main one. Second, it is also important to acknowledge the potential for invisible disabilities, such as chronic illnesses or neurological conditions like autism or Asperger syndrome. These disabilities are not always easy to identify and may require assistance from doctors or mental health professionals.

As for accommodations, if a student has a physical disability that requires them to use a wheelchair, they will not be able to participate if an activity requires running. Teachers should offer alternatives instead of only offering one approach to an activity. In this example, that could be moving a grass activity to concrete for easier movement catered to align with wheelchair functionality. Likewise, a student may have sensory issues, making loud or overstimulating activities uncomfortable. Instead, consider offering headphones, quiet areas, or a stop-light system to control the noise in the classroom.

These seemingly minor adjustments ensure that students can be a part of learning opportunities without feeling shamed for their disability. Of course, it can be challenging to make these sorts of changes. In those instances, teachers may need to create two different assignments that get the same or similar end result and assign half of the class to one and a half to the other. The point is to make a meaningful effort to ensure no one is left out.

Gender Equality and Inclusion

Gender equality is another critical area for inclusion in the classroom. By age five, it is typical for students to already be influenced by social norms related to gender roles. There are several noticeable factors gender has on development, from interests like favorite toys and colors to dream career paths.

Educators need to prioritize gender equality by avoiding stereotyping and treating boys and girls as emotionally and intellectually equal. Teachers might consider common pitfalls like tolerating rowdy conduct from boys but calling out girls for the same behavior, or only having boys help move chairs and girls clean up. This can enable students to break down ideas of gender norms and believe everyone is capable.

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Benefits of Inclusive Classrooms to Students

Naturally, students can benefit significantly from being in an inclusive classroom. This is especially true for students who may have disabilities or learning challenges that make school more difficult.

Displaying Compassion

Developing compassion at an early age has a lifelong impact. When a classroom is inclusive of all students, there is a ripple effect that is felt, one of which is students see and understand that organized situations like school are a place where feeling compassion for others and their needs is prioritized. From there, students learn to show compassion in other areas of life, including interactions with peers and with others outside of a school setting.

Normalizing Differences

People are products of their environment, and students spend countless hours in a school environment. So, it is imperative to incorporate inclusive best practices because they help create what kids believe to be normal. When teachers and students adjust to help someone who may look, learn, or behave differently than they do, they are better equipped to manage a variety of situations. Starting young especially lays the foundation for interacting with different people as a normal aspect of everyday life.

Encouraging Community

Classrooms and grade levels are microcosms of larger communities that exist outside of the school environment, and teaching students they are there, in part, to help encourage, support, and assist their friends and classmates is an important lesson. Students will likely feel more inclined to contribute to the classroom environment because they have a sense of belonging that inclusion facilitates.

Benefits of Inclusive Classrooms to Parents

The benefits of inclusion in early childhood education exist outside the classroom, too. The parents and guardians of students belonging to an inclusive classroom also reap the benefits.

Happier Kids

Going to school is not something every student loves. For many, it may be hard to get out of bed. Others may want to rebel out of fear of interacting with other students their age or because they would rather be doing something they have more control over. However, when a classroom is inviting and inclusive, getting a kid to go to school is much easier. That means calmer mornings for parents, who are often also preparing for work or other responsibilities.

Better Education

Another focus for parents and guardians is that their children get the best education possible. Of course, that may look different for everyone. But sending students to a classroom where parents confidently know that their child will be supported and feel like they belong can improve their fondness for learning, which can lead to a better overall education experience and performance.

Social Enrichment

Students getting to interact with other kids their age is one of the biggest benefits of in-person education. And when a student attends a classroom that is inclusive, students are even further enriched by the social parameters of their learning space. This benefits parents because kids are more well-versed in how different people may need help or ways to communicate with someone who may be different, which makes their job raising socially aware and competent kids easier.

Benefits of Inclusive Classrooms to Teachers

Like students and parents, teachers also benefit from inclusion in the classroom setting. When they are able to prioritize including all of their students in activities, they are able to fully meet the learning needs of all their students.

Increased Engagement

Inclusion also plays a role in how connected students feel to the information they are learning and their interactions with teachers and fellow students. When they know that they are accepted and included, they can better focus on the task at hand and feel like they are in a safe space. That means they are able to answer and ask questions without fear of judgment or being ignored, making them feel more inclined to participate fully in class. The result for teachers? Fewer distractions and better focus on the lessons that in turn create a more manageable classroom.

Developing Teaching Skills

When teachers strive to create inclusive classrooms, it also challenges them to develop their teaching skills. For one, teaching is a job that inherently requires collaboration to succeed, and with inclusive education, teachers learn how to collaborate with parents, other educators, and staff to ensure students with disabilities, learning differences, or other needs are fully immersed in the classroom and learning along with their peers. Inclusive classrooms also help teachers rethink their teaching methodology or approaches--what works for one diverse classroom might not work for another.

How to Foster Inclusive Classrooms

Educators want to have an inclusive classroom, especially those who choose to pursue early childhood education; however, achieving that as an ECE teacher can be challenging. There are several elements that educators must incorporate in order for their classroom and teaching procedures to be considered inclusive by entities like the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Lesson Adjustments in Early Childhood Education

A few of the main ways teachers can align their teaching practices and course material with inclusion standards are to incorporate adjustments into their lesson planning.

While making adjustments requires some additional work and creativity, it can make a big difference in how included students feel in the classroom. Ultimately, being able to provide an activity that everyone can participate in and engage with is what is best for teachers and students alike.

Access to Early Childhood Education

Access is key for inclusion, from the opportunity to be exposed to different learning and educational materials to having the ability to go to environments that are best suited for learning. Access can be achieved in a few ways:

1. Physical Access: Students with physical disabilities may require ramps, enough space for a guide, or other adjustments to participate in certain learning activities. Teachers should keep these necessities in mind when developing lesson plans involving hands-on learning.
2. Mental Access: Different students will learn and grasp concepts at different paces, so educators need to prepare lessons in a way that can be tailored to each student. Allowing for adjustments when needed can help with the flexibility of learning while still ensuring the information is shared.
3. Technological Access: If assignments are online, educators must try to help their students acquire the necessary devices to be able to participate. Whether they are provided by the school or could be checked out from a library, ensuring students have the tools they need to access the materials they require is vital.

Ensuring students are well-equipped to learn can be a difference-maker in educational progress. So, while it can require additional time and focus on details, it is well worth it in the end.

Participation in Early Childhood Education

The next element of inclusion in classrooms is participation. Teachers should find ways that allow students of all abilities and learning levels to actively participate in educational demonstrations, events, and lessons.

• Tiered Approach: If teachers have an idea for an activity that can facilitate learning meaningfully but may not be inclusive of all students, that does not mean it has to be scrapped. Instead, teachers can create a tiered approach that provides similar experience options for a variety of ability levels. Offering two or more of these adjusted options helps keep the lessons relevant, new, and fun for students while also enabling everyone to be involved.
• Social Encouragement: Lesson planning isn't the only way to achieve more participation in class. In fact, teachers should seek out ways to remind students to encourage their classmates to participate actively throughout the day and school year. This creates a more inclusive environment and one that relies on students being present and actively listening to the lesson instructions throughout the learning experience. Plus, it helps boost the social abilities of students who may struggle in that area.

Supports in Early Childhood Education

Support systems are the final element of inclusion for ECE teachers to consider as they plan and set classroom standards. This element, in particular, is focused on using the community to help make learning easier and more effective.

Involving Families

Parents, guardians, and other close relationships are crucial to helping students navigate their educational journeys. They are the people students go to for advice, questions, and concerns they may have about the school and what they are learning. Even at the early childhood level, kids are still speaking with their family members about what they are learning and what they are struggling with. Having an open line of communication helps make learning easier since teachers have more knowledge about areas for improvement.

Getting Help from Trained Professionals

When students are struggling in school, they may need extra help that a teacher responsible for dozens of kids is unable to provide. That is why there are resources available to assist, whether students need a physical helper to guide them through the halls of school or a tutor to assist with understanding certain instructions on assignments. Relying on professionals to assist with learning and any potential challenges students face helps create an environment where everyone can learn and excel.