The Necessity of Paying Attention to the Developmental and Educational Significance of Pre-School Years, as Indicated by Contemporary Research

To demonstrate the necessity of paying attention to the developmental and educational significance of the early years of childhood (from birth to first grade) by all involved, a subset of all related research conducted during the past twenty years was selected and perused in order to find and then synthesize their results along some predetermined lines. The synthesis of the results of 25 research on the topic provides a justifiable rationale for paying attention to this period. Justifications are not only developmental, but economical, educational, and social as well. This synthesis could be beneficial to parents, teachers, and program developers.