From First Steps to After-School Adventures: The Critical Role of Childcare
A baby tries a new food. A toddler takes their first steps. A preschooler masters a new word. A kindergartner makes a friend. An elementary student works on a science project.
These moments may look like ordinary parts of a child’s day, but each one is filled with learning and facilitated by a childcare provider who is holding the spoon, offering a steady hand or word of encouragement, and teaching.
What happens in these everyday moments is more than care. It’s early childhood education — work that lays the foundation for how children learn, develop, and experience the world around them.
Early childhood education encompasses the experiences and intentional learning that happen during the early years (birth – 8-years-old) of a child’s life. High-quality early childhood education programs are intentionally designed to support children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development during the years when their brains are growing most rapidly. Through play, exploration, and caring relationships with skilled educators, children build a foundation for lifelong learning, health, and success.
Childcare providers and early childhood educators are critical influences in a child’s life. During a child’s early years, educators act as guides, providing meaningful interactions and communication that literally build the architecture of the brain. As children grow, their role evolves from laying the foundation for development to fostering independence, building confidence, supporting academic success, and creating opportunities for children to develop social skills, explore new interests, and build positive relationships with peers and trusted adults.
Whether in an early learning classroom, after-school program, or summer camp, educators provide safe, engaging environments where children continue to learn, grow, and thrive. And for a young child, significant learning happens through play.
For example, what looks like a child building with blocks is simultaneously a child developing problem-solving, spatial, and motor skills. When children are encouraged to take turns, their social-emotional development skills are increasing. When they learn how to get dressed independently, they’re gaining confidence and self-help skills.
So when an early childhood educator spends a day reading books, preparing snacks, helping with a disagreement, changing a diaper, setting up a learning activity, comforting a child, and communicating with a parent, they’re not just keeping children safe while parents are at work – they’re shaping who those children will become.
And learning doesn’t stop when children leave the classroom.
Out-of-school-time (OST) programming encompasses the hours before and after school, school breaks, and summer. The State of Michigan describes OST as including both care for school-age children and opportunities for learning, enrichment, and youth development.
An out-of-school-time professional might help a child with homework, but they may also help a child discover an interest in robotics, learn to work on a team, develop grit and resiliency, participate in art, play sports, or simply have a place to belong.
While early childhood education and out-of-school time serve different ages and stages, both are focused on helping children learn, grow, and stay safe so families have the reliable support they need to work and thrive.
The impact of this work reaches far beyond the children in their care. When children have opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, families are better supported, employers have a stronger workforce, and communities are stronger.
Creating an exceptional place where everyone thrives begins with our youngest residents. When we invest in early childhood education and out-of-school-time programs, we're investing in a stronger Midland — an inclusive community that moves forward together with bold solutions for every generation.
The Max Loves Midland Childcare Collabor-action Team has a mission of expanding access to childcare in Midland County by improving coordination, increasing affordability, and supporting early childhood educators to ensure all families have the care they need. Follow along on maxlovesmidland.com/childcare-team for monthly childcare stories.
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