If you have a child, this is a good place to
be. I will share my experiences as a mother and a school teacher.

By the way my “child” is now 36, married with a family of his own and my
business partner! What’s more I have been engaged with the field of
education even longer!

Times are different now from when we raised our child. There were no
electronics dominating our lives, there were few “fast food” places and
families were larger. In other words, life was much simpler, and we had
a much easier time raising our children that parents have today. Value
systems are changing rapidly and exposure is far greater. Often, both
parents are working and that brings its own set of parenting issues.
So, first things first. If possible, try and give as much personal time to
your child in the first 3-4 years of his/her life. Research has shown that
more that 50% of the child’s intellectual development happens before
the age of 4!

I would suggest that you read the statement again – more
that 50% of the child’s intellectual development happens before the age
of 4. The implications of this are mind boggling. If a child’s mind is
appropriately stimulated at this stage, he/she already has a head start
for what’s to come ahead. In this most sensitive period of brain
development in a child, the foundations are laid for academic learning,
emotional and social growth, language and expression – and all this
happens before the child has even stepped into a school!