North American Division Early Childhood Education and Care Philosophy

North American Division Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) has its foundation in the Biblical imperative for purposeful training of the young child. We are admonished to teach the words of Holy Script “diligently unto thy children,” and to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Deuteronomy 6:7, and Proverbs 22:6, KJV). The North American Division recognizes that the early education and care of young children is the beginning of a continual growth process. “Too much importance cannot be placed upon the early training of children. The lessons learned, the habits formed, during the years of infancy and childhood, have more to do with the formation of the character and the direction of the life than have all the instruction and training of after years” (Ministry of Healing, p. 380). In partnership with the home and church, it is essential that a balanced ECEC program be established to meet the needs of a child’s spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and emotional development from birth to entrance into formal schooling. This focus has the full intention of affirming the value of each child and family, bringing them closer to Christ.