The Benefits of Early Childhood Education

You’re not alone if you’ve ever felt a pang of guilt about sending your baby to childcare. They’re still so little! Is it too soon?

But here’s something many parents don’t realise: enrolling your child earlier, while they’re still very young, can have enormous benefits. Not just in how they settle, but in how they learn, grow, and thrive both now and well into the future.

Early starters tend to be more independent, emotionally secure, and socially confident. They build strong bonds with educators, and transitions (like starting school) become a whole lot smoother.

Let’s explore some reasons why starting earlier really is better.

Early childhood education benefits young brains

The brain grows faster in the first few years of life than at any other time. During this period, children form more than a million neural connections every second (compared to around 1,000 to 10,000 for adults). Those connections are built through experiences, relationships, and play, which is exactly what quality early learning programs are designed to provide.

Whether they’re exploring with water and paint or working together on a group game, children are learning how to think, question, and create. A study by the NSW Education Department backs this up: children who go to early learning programs show noticeably stronger cognitive development by the time they start school.

‘It’s a good start when they start at a younger age,’ says Indy, Centre Director at Child’s Play Tarneit. ‘It helps them get familiar with the environment and grow connected with people outside their own family.’

Earlier starts = easier settling

Here’s something you may not have thought of: the younger a child is when they start care, the more smoothly they tend to settle.

That’s because babies and young toddlers are still forming their understanding of the world around them. When they’re introduced early to new people, routines, and environments, they adapt more easily and build trust more quickly.

At Child’s Play, we ease children in gently, so they feel right at home from the start. ‘We always follow the home routine until the child is fully settled,’ says Maryam Hassan, Assistant Director at Child’s Play Tarneit. ‘If they need three sleeps or four feeds, we match that exactly. That way, they feel comfortable, and parents feel reassured.’

Our team supports this with flexible orientation, even offering twice-daily visits for a full week if that’s what helps your child feel safe.

Young children form stronger bonds

One of the biggest benefits of starting early in childhood education? Your child is likely to build stronger emotional connections.

Priyanka, director at Child’s Play Tarneit West, says, ‘Children who start early build relationships, gain independence, and learn social skills much earlier. We’re preparing them for every next stage.’

When children enrol young and attend consistently, they have more time to build meaningful relationships with educators and peers. They laugh with friends, lean on trusted educators, and build the kind of bonds that help them feel brave, calm, and ready to take on the world.

Language and social skills flourish

The more children are immersed in rich, back-and-forth conversations, songs, and storytelling, the more their communication skills grow.

A U.S. study into the benefits of early childhood education found that children enrolled in the first three years of life had:

Stronger language skills by age three
Better engagement and attention spans
Fewer behaviour challenges
Stronger social-emotional development, including empathy and self-regulation

These are the kinds of benefits we’ve noticed at Child’s Play, too. ‘Children who start early are stronger in independence, language, and emotional development,’ says Indy. ‘They settle better and are more socially confident than those who start later.’

By the time they reach kindergarten age, many early starters are already confidently communicating and building friendships.

Advice for early starters

Thinking about sending your baby or toddler to early childhood education can come with a wave of uncertainty and questions: Will they cry the whole time? What will they eat? Will they miss me?

(Spoiler: they might cry at first, but not for long. They’ll be eating delicious freshly made meals from our talented in-house chefs. And yes, they’ll miss you … but they’ll be too busy learning, laughing, and exploring to dwell on it.)

Here are a few tips to help parents and children make the most of an early start:

Visit the centre with your child
Drop in for short visits ahead of time so your child can get familiar with the space, faces, and sounds.
Talk to educators about your child’s routine
Share details about sleep, feeding, and comfort items. Child’s Play will match your home routine to help your child settle.
Start with shorter days if needed
A gradual start can ease separation for both you and your child. Flexible orientation is often available. Ask about it!
Stay consistent
Children thrive on predictability. If possible, choose regular days each week so your child builds trust and rhythm.
Talk positively about childcare
Even before they understand your words fully, your child picks up on your tone. Framing childcare as a fun and safe place can help ease nerves.

Every child is different, but with gentle support and the right environment, early care can be the beginning of something wonderful.

Getting ready for the next step – and the one after that

From group routines and shared play to learning how to manage emotions and bounce back from challenges, the benefits of starting early childhood education in the first few years of life are many. Early starters are already building the skills they’ll carry through school and beyond.

At Child’s Play, children aren’t just prepared for prep, they’re prepared for life. Surrounded by trusted educators, strong relationships, and meaningful learning experiences, they grow into capable and well-rounded little people, ready to take on whatever comes next.

Thinking about an early start for your child? Book a tour at your nearest Child’s Play centre. We’re here to answer your questions, support your family, and help your little one thrive from the very beginning.