Buddhism and Early Childhood Education: Enhancing the Child’s Moral Development from Prenatal Stage to Preschool Ages
Shimo Sraman, The University of Shanxi (Thailand)
Noyon Barua, Wat Wangkhrajom Buddhist Monastery (Thailand)
Suman Barua, Suwarnabhoomi Buddha Vihar - Maharashtra (India)
Abstract
Learning is a crucial process for personal growth and human development which requires long-life time. Education is one institution to provide both formal and informal learning. Quality and efficient education not only provides knowledge and skills to the learners, but also teaches moral, ethics, and builds quality humans. Education needs to begin since early childhood, and there needs to be the continuing learning on both home and school. Early childhood is the important time for personality development. In this paper will be focused on creating moral environment and motivating moral learning from prenatal stage to early years of life. Later on, will be presenting the roles of parents, teachers and Buddhist teachings that create an environment to enhance the child’s personal growth and moral development. Also, will be discussed how Buddhist teachings can be applied to one’s life to create quality humans since prenatal stage. Eventually, will be introducing the method for parents and teachers to apply Buddhist ethics to early childhood education by dividing the stages of life as (1.) before pregnancy, (2.) pregnancy stage, (3.) infant and toddler stage (birth-2years) and (4.) preschool ages (2-6 years). Eventually, will be discussed, how an early childhood education includes all learning that is provided by parents and teachers in both at homes and schools to stimulate learning with morals and ethics.
Keywords: Learning, childhood education, Buddhist teachings, moral development, method, and understanding;