SHOULD EDUCATION BE STARTED EARLY?

Hi guys,

I was amazed with what was happening last friday morning. I was walking heading back home with my elder son after jogging. We were chatting along the way, and I think it was a very good moment for both of us where we shared laugh together especially about doing physical activities. 

He actually being dismissed from school because of PMR exam at his school. Every time exam start there will be some classes will be dismissed - i think just because of the attention and quiet time that the PMR examinees are needed. And for my son he really 'enjoy' the morning because going for jogging with me meaning he will 'missed' his sleeping after Subuh prayer....hahahaha...

When we were passing one of our neighbour houses, we were greeted by a young kid, very young I think not more than 5 years old by saying "hello uncle", many times. We just greeted back by saying "hello" back and "bye bye". I really amazed with that moment. Kids as young as that knows how to greet and befriend with his neighbour. That was the first time I was greeted by the boy actually.

That moment recalled me to the process of educating young generation. Piaget mentioned about the stages of development. Whereas Bandura did mentioned about observational learning. I think both were reflected clearly from that moment.

The boy would not be able to greet if he haven't been taught to do so. Well done to his parents!! My understanding is clear that if we want to inculcate positive attitude and behaviours in children it need to be done as early as possible. And of course the adult will play important roles in this situation. As father or mother or even the adult member of the society, it is their jobs and responsibilities not just to educate them but also to promote good examples to the children. Without this I think the process of learning good and positive behaviours will be more complicated.

In other words regardless of who they are, what races they are from, which belief they are embraces, the process of inculcating good behaviours and attitudes is pretty much the same. In fact in Islam it is clearly stated that the process need to be done as early as the baby still in the womb! We as parents or as adults in society should aware this all the time so that the process of educating young lad to become useful citizens is started early.

That's all for now and have a nice day.

Thank you.