The Power of the Early Years: Why What Happens Before Kindergarten Matters Most

Author: Dr. Jennifer Bishop
April 29, 2025

At Grace Academy, we believe that the most powerful learning doesn’t start in a college classroom or a high school lab—it begins in the rhythm of a toddler’s footsteps, the scribbles of a preschooler’s first drawings, and the questions sparked by a curious three-year-old. These early years are not a warm-up act; they are the main stage of brain development, emotional regulation, and identity formation. And what we do during this season matters for a lifetime.

I’ve spent over thirteen years leading Grace Academy through growth, challenges, and incredible transformation. But no matter how many renovations or how advanced our curriculum becomes, one truth remains constant: the first five years of a child’s life are critical for setting the foundation of who they will become.

Science confirms what educators have always known in our hearts. By age five, 90% of a child’s brain is developed. These early years are when pathways for language, problem-solving, empathy, and self-control are formed. If we wait until kindergarten to invest in a child’s potential, we’ve already missed the window when the soil is most fertile.

But our work at Grace Academy goes beyond ABCs and 123s.

We cultivate thinkers, leaders, listeners, and dreamers. We teach our students how to manage big feelings, share joyfully, and ask bold questions. We don’t just teach reading—we help children fall in love with stories. We don’t just teach math—we show them how to see patterns in the world around them. Every teacher here is not just an instructor but a builder of confidence and a champion of potential.

Early childhood education is not babysitting. It is brain-building. It is culture-shaping. It is legacy work

As a mother, a pastor, a leader, and an advocate, I stand firm in this truth: how we treat our youngest learners reflects what we believe about the future. At Grace Academy, we believe the future is bright, bold, and full of promise because we see it in our classrooms every single day.

If you’re reading this as a parent, I encourage you to see your child’s early education not as an expense, but as an investment. If you’re an educator, keep pressing forward—you are doing sacred work. And if you’re a community member or policymaker, know this: supporting early childhood education is not a gift—it’s a responsibility.

The next generation is watching. And they are learning not just from our lessons, but from our leadership.

Let’s build a world where every child, no matter their zip code or background, has access to high-quality early education that honors their brilliance and ignites their future. At Grace Academy, we’re doing our part—one child, one classroom, one courageous day at a time.

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