Chapter 2
The Proposed Structure of Care and Education
THE ROLE OF THE PRE-PRIMARY INSTITUTIONS
2.1
While most children go through the same stages of development, and in this respect their development needs are largely predictable, children develop at different speeds. In addition to genetic factors which influence development, environmental influences have a major and lasting impact on the child. Positive environmental influences will assist the proper development of the personality, physical and mental health and good personal relationships. If there is environmental deprivation or a lack of positive stimulation, the child's growth and development may be adversely affected. Play is particularly important during this period, for it is in this way that the child learns and forms concepts.
2.2
If the home environment is generally inadequate, care and education given in a proper institutional setting can help to compensate for these factors and provide the child with the conditions conducive to normal develop- ment. Clearly a properly run child care centre or kindergarten can be of great value to the development of the pre-school child both as a partial compensation for any lack of facilities in the home and also as a positive educational benefit. Such an institution provides a learning situation in which a child is allowed to develop in a happy and secure atmosphere under the guidance of trained adults. He is surrounded by selected educational materials and is given the opportunity to use them to develop cognitive, motor and language skills. He is able to mix with other children to form relationships with his peer group.
2.3
This is particularly valuable in Hong Kong where many children livé in small flats in highrise buildings. In these flats there is inadequate space to play inside the home and for safety reasons children may not be allowed to play in public playgrounds. With both parents out working for much of the day the child is given little opportunity to mix with others, and the parents are too busy to support, encourage, stimulate and promote his development through the pre-school years. Because of the value of pre-primary care and education the Government is making further proposals elsewhere in this Green Paper to improve the quality of the services to be provided.
Concept of child care compared with kindergarten education
2.4
There is an essential difference in the main purpose of child care centres and kindergartens. Although in practice many of the programmes and activities should be identical, the former is intended primarily for children whose family circumstances require them to be in full-day institutional care. The essential role of the institution is the provision of services to supplement the lack of care at home. A large proportion of the children in child care centres are in the 2-3 year-old age group, and because of the younger age range encompassed by child care centres and the longer hours of service provided, the standards required from such an institution should be higher than those of a kindergarten.
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