To the editor:
Why do we take the month of April to Celebrate the Young Child?
Well, I think (I hope) that most of us know the importance of Early Childhood Education or ECE. We know that 90% of the human’s brain structure takes shape until age 5. Also, ECE provides for a child’s future development in areas like cognitive, social, and emotional skills. ECE is about preparing children for life.
However, there are many issues that face ECE programming, including in Leelanau County. Mainly, there is a lack of adequate funding which leads to limited access to ECE and compromised program equality. It also leads to teacher shortages and high turnover rates.
I urge the members of our community to prioritize and expand access to quality Early Childhood Education programs. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential from the earliest stages of life.
Sarah Christensen Leelanau Children’s Center Board Secretary
