Children start learning from birth. Early childhood education, whether it is in a local head-start program, a preschool or at home, can help a child increase vocabulary development by familiarizing her with words and their meanings. According to Rand Corporation Research, early education has lasting benefits, showing increases in IQ levels and cognitive abilities such as the ability to understand both concrete and abstract thought.
Children exposed to early childhood education can be more prepared for social environments. A child becomes competent in learning to socially interact with adults and other children. With parental support, the child can learn not only what is socially appropriate in the classroom, but also in public places and in his home. Social competency is a key skill for a child to learn, as it will benefit him throughout his lifetime.
According to Legal Momentum's Family Initiative and the MIT Workplace Center, early childhood education not only directly benefits the child and his immediate family, but the community at large. Children who are educated early have less likelihood of needing special education services and more likelihood of finishing high school and going on to attain post-secondary education. These things combined add significantly to the economic vitality of the workforce in the future. Employees contribute to the tax base of a community, as well as spend money in community businesses, which all contribute to the health of the community at large.