History of Early Childhood Education Three major changes occurred that influenced the beginnings of Early Childhood Education

Changes in Family Life  1950 only 12% of mothers with children under six worked  Increased numbers of single parent families  % of the adult population was married and living with a spouse  Divorce rate is 15% higher now that it was just 30 years ago  Families are more mobile today—extended families are not available

Benefits of Early Childhood Education  Benefits to special populations—low income, children with disabilities  Evidence that high-quality early childhood education programs improve children’s lives and benefit society  Results show decreased need for special education  Lower delinquency and arrest rates  Decreased welfare dependence

Child Advocacy  More families face poverty today—children are the poorest group in America  20-25% of children live in poverty