Editing Child (section)

=== Early childhood ===
[[File:Children Playing Violin Suzuki Institute 2011.JPG|thumb|Children playing the [[violin]] in a group recital, Ithaca, New York, 2011]]
[[File:Malagasy girls Madagascar Merina.jpg|thumb|Children in [[Madagascar]], 2011]]
[[File:Child playing piano - 1984-11-01.jpg|thumb|Child playing piano, 1984]]

[[Early childhood]] follows the [[infant|infancy]] stage and begins with [[toddler]]hood when the child begins speaking or taking steps independently.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alam |first1=Gajanafar |title=Population and Society |date=2014 |publisher=K.K. Publications |isbn=978-8178441986}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Purdy ER | date = 18 January 2019 |title=Infant and toddler development|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/infant-and-toddler-development|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> While toddlerhood ends around age 3 when the child becomes less dependent on parental assistance for basic needs, early childhood continues approximately until the age of 5 or 6. However, according to the [[National Association for the Education of Young Children]], early childhood also includes infancy. At this stage children are learning through observing, experimenting and communicating with others. Adults supervise and support the development process of the child, which then will lead to the child's autonomy. Also during this stage, a strong emotional bond is created between the child and the care providers. The children also start preschool and kindergarten at this age: and hence their social lives.