Amid the explosion of modern educational theories, early childhood education has become a defining trend, shaping the parenting mindset and child-rearing approaches of millions of parents. The period from birth to age eight is identified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a critical “window of opportunity,” when children’s brains develop and form neural connections at an exceptionally rapid rate.
At this crucial stage, parents are often surrounded by countless conflicting perspectives and confronted with a difficult question: Should they prioritize academic knowledge so their children do not fall behind from the starting line, nurture character to preserve traditional moral values, or introduce legal education from an early age to help shape responsible and civilized citizens?
Learning knowledge: Stimulating natural curiosity instead of cramming abstract theory
When it comes to early education, one of the most common mistakes parents make is equating it with forcing children to learn letters, do mathematics, or memorize vocabulary flashcards while they are still very young. This achievement-driven approach to academic learning goes against children’s natural psychological and developmental processes and risks taking away the joy of childhood.
However, this does not mean that we should completely dismiss the role of knowledge during the early years. According to research from the Kid's Club educational system, the essence of early academic learning is to help children explore and understand the world around them through their natural curiosity.
At this stage, knowledge does not exist in the form of dry theories in textbooks. Instead, it is introduced through sensory-stimulating games, drawing and other artistic activities, as well as stories and music.
For example, the well-known educational approach of Tai Xiaowan in China, who successfully raised six accomplished children, demonstrates the importance he placed on early education by developing his children’s ability to learn independently through simple counting games from as early as eight months old.
Learning knowledge effectively during this critical developmental period means awakening curiosity and nurturing a positive desire to learn, helping children discover that exploring science, nature, and society can be an exciting adventure. It also equips them with a rich vocabulary and flexible problem-solving abilities, providing a solid foundation for acquiring more advanced knowledge in the future.
Learning to be a good person: The foundation of character and emotional intelligence
If knowledge gives children the tools to understand the world, then learning how to be a good person provides the moral compass they need to navigate that world. The ancient Vietnamese saying, “First learn proper conduct, then learn knowledge,” emphasizes that morality is the fundamental foundation of a person.
Applying this philosophy to early education, leading educational approaches such as Montessori and Shichida place considerable emphasis on nurturing children’s emotional development, values, and moral qualities before the age of six. Learning how to be a good person at this age begins with simple lessons: learning to say thank you and apologize, sharing toys with friends, being attentive to other people’s feelings, showing compassion toward animals, and respecting individual differences.
A lack of early character education can lead to serious consequences for the development of a child’s sense of self. A child may possess exceptional intelligence and learn to read and write at an early age, but without empathy and emotional self-control, they may face considerable difficulties adapting to and integrating into society.
According to an analysis by the Kindy Garden Kindergarten School System, emphasizing character education from the preschool years by incorporating cultural values such as kindness, understanding, and compassion into daily activities can help children develop strong inner resilience.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) nurtured from childhood becomes the lifeblood that cultivates a compassionate, courageous, and confident spirit, helping children grow into useful members of society who appreciate the human values that make life meaningful.
Learning the law: A protective shield and framework of discipline for responsible citizens
While “learning knowledge” and “learning to be a good person” have long held established positions in education, introducing children to the law at an early age remains a relatively new concept and often raises skepticism.
Many people believe that the law is too abstract and dry for young children, and that it is only appropriate for secondary school students or university students. This represents an extremely dangerous gap in thinking. Morality regulates human behavior through social expectations and conscience, while the law provides the enforceable framework of discipline and boundaries necessary for a safe and orderly society.
Legal education for children from an early age does not mean forcing them to memorize legal provisions. Instead, it means teaching discipline, respect for shared rules, and an awareness of individual rights and responsibilities. It can begin with simple things such as following classroom rules, observing road safety regulations, including wearing helmets and staying in the correct lane, and understanding children’s rights.
In particular, amid the increasingly connected modern society and the growing influence of cyberspace, understanding basic cybersecurity laws, learning how to protect one’s privacy and bodily autonomy, and recognizing unsafe online behavior can serve as a vital protective shield against violence, exploitation, and abuse.
The three elements, knowledge, morality, and the law, do not exist independently. Instead, they overlap and complement one another, working together toward the goal of holistic human development.
Knowledge provides children with the light of intellect, enabling them to distinguish right from wrong from a scientific perspective. Morality gives them a warm heart with which to treat others with humanity and kindness. The law provides a rational framework that teaches them to respect rules and social order while understanding how to protect themselves against injustice.
If we imagine a child as a growing tree, morality is the root system buried deep in the soil, keeping the tree firmly grounded; knowledge is the branches and leaves reaching toward the sunlight and supporting growth; while the law is the protective fence surrounding the tree, shielding it from harmful influences in the external environment.
Therefore, an intelligent model of early education should not overemphasize any single dimension. Schools and families should integrate moral and legal education directly into the process of teaching academic knowledge. Rather than relying on rigid theoretical lectures, educators can transform lessons about laws and character into vivid, real-life situations.
For example, when teaching children about means of transportation and traffic (knowledge), educators can incorporate rules such as stopping at red lights and crossing at pedestrian crossings (the law), along with lessons about being considerate and helping elderly people when participating in traffic (character).
