Early Reading First emphasizes the language and cognitive domains. How do the other developmental domains of early childhood fit into Early Reading First?
It is vital that early education programs attend to all the developmental domains of early childhood. Those domains (social, emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and physical) are closely related, and growth in language and cognition will optimally occur in the context of the other areas of development. Language development emerges from social interactions and rich experiences; good health and nutrition are foundational for all types of learning, and self-assurance in a group setting helps children profit from school experiences. Early care and education programs have long done a good job in addressing the social, emotional and health needs of children and families. However, new research points to the importance of the language and cognitive domains, which, as discussed in the previous question, have often not been strongly or systematically addressed. The new research illustrates the importance of the intellectual competencies of young children and suggests specific ways to support learn
