Early childhood education focuses on critical thinking and language development

Early childhood education is shifting focus from rote memorization toward developing essential life skills such as critical thinking, emotional management, and autonomous learning. At the British International School de Barranquilla, the Early Learning Section utilizes the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme to foster curiosity through play, investigation, and daily experiences.

Graciela Vásquez, Early Years Head at the school, emphasizes that the goal is not merely the accumulation of knowledge, but rather teaching children how to ask questions, explore, and make decisions. This approach introduces routines as early as age three to encourage observation and problem-solving.

Complementing these developmental approaches, educators are utilizing specialized tools for the initial assessment of hearing and language in early childhood education. These resources allow teachers to track phonological processes, semantic components like vocabulary and comprehension, and morphosyntactic structures to identify where students may need additional support.