What is the critical learning stage of children?

I have come across another interesting definition of learning in the context of this blog: learning is the process by which babies become humanized (we can examine this idea in more depth in future). As you read on you will realize that the earlier we get the learning going the better.

Here are some interesting figures from studies of Benjamin Bloom (in Stability and Change in Human Characteristics)

• Of general intelligence, about 50 percent of development takes place between conception and four years of age, about 30 percent between ages four and eight and about 20 percent between ages of eight and seventeen.

• As far as vocabulary development, reading and general school achievement, 33 percent of academic skills children have at 18 years develops between birth and age six, 42 percent between age six and thirteen, and 25 percent between thirteen and eighteen. One of my professors (Prof Mel West) would say it is very difficult to change the tide for a child who does not understand the place of school at age 13.

Please note: these statistics do not confirm all children will turn out this way. Some children are resilient and can be very unpredictable. At age 10 they may appear mediocre, only to realize they are on top of their class four years later.

Here are some words of caution: there are many parents and educators who believe the best way to avoid failure in life is to keep their children longer in school. It is time to shift the emphasis from post-14 year-olds to age 2-6. This is a time when intellectual development is likely to have greater impact immediately and in the long term.