Early childhood education quotes

Who does not find inspiration in the words of others? Here's a compilation of some early childhood quotes about the play, family, advocacy, learning, inclusion, diversity, and more. These quotes are positive and motivational for advocates and early childhood professionals who want to find inspiration for their contribution to the well-being of children, families, and the early childhood field overall.
Read, enjoy, and get inspired!

One great kindergarten quote



As a kindergarten teacher, I really enjoy and get satisfied by experiencing how children learn, and when they manifest their interest in learning. Those years are crucial in their development. Parents and caregivers should not take that time for granted. Values such as self-esteem, respect for life, and kindness, for instance, are taught in early childhood and practiced until adulthood, basically, the entire life. Since I read the quote, a long time ago, I realized the great importance of early childhood education for developing functional human beings in our societies.

Families

"The happiness of any society begins with the well-being of the families that live in it." - Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Prize and seventh Secretary-General of the United Nation

“The most important thing in the world is family and love.” – John Wooden

“A family in harmony will prosper in everything.” – Chinese Proverb

"Cherish your human connections: your relationships with friends and family.” – Joseph Brodsky

“Everyone needs a house to live in, but a supportive family is what builds a home.” – Anthony Liccione

Advocacy

"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history." - Sonia Johnson, American feminist, activist, and writer

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” - William Faulkner

“..things are never as complicated as they seem. It is only our arrogance that prompts us to find unnecessarily complicated answers to simple problems.” -  Muhammad Yunus, Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty

“I know you can't live on hope alone; but without hope, life is not worth living. So you, and you and you: you got to give them hope; you got to give them hope.” -  Harvey Milk

“You can not protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they MUST protect them.” -  Dr. Wangari Maathai

"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance." - Claus Moser

Young children

"No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure." - Emma Goldman, Russian-Canadian writer

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." - Walt Streightiff, American author

"Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times." - Anonymous

"Let put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children." - Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux chief

"Children do not constitute anyone's property: they are neither the property of their parents nor even of society. They belong only to their own future freedom." - Mikhail Bakunin, Russian revolutionary, and theorist

"Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his mind is being developed. To him, we can not say tomorrow, his name is today." - Gabriela Mistral, Chilean poet, educator, and Nobel laureate (Institute of Medicine, 2004)

Play

"Play is the exultation of the possible." - Martin Buber, German philosopher

"When we play, we are engaged in the purest expression of our humanity, the truest expression of our individuality." - Stuart Brown, Research, Psychiatrist, and Play advocate

“Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori

“Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.” – Abraham Maslow

“Children learn as they play. More importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.” – O. Fred Donaldson

Learning

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." - Albert Einstein, Nobel Laureate, physicist, and philosopher

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults.” ~ F. Douglas

“Teaching is not about answering questions but about raising questions – opening doors for them in places that they could not imagine.” ~ Yawar Baig

“The work of education is divided between the teacher and the environment.” ~ Maria Montessori

“Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves.” ~ Jean Piaget

Inclusion

"Inclusion is a process of identifying, understanding, and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging." - Early Childhood Forum, 2003

"Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists, it is making a new space, a better space for everyone." - Rachel Olivero, Diversity Officer

"Schools that include everyone promote harmony along with an appreciation for the differences that mark us individually and culturally. Segregation fosters unfamiliarity, distrust, and disrespect, breeding grounds for harassment and bullying – among kids and countries." - Helen Henderson, Columnist

Diversity

We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color." - Maya Angelou, American poet

"Diversity is not about how we differ. It is about embracing one another's uniqueness." - Ola Joseph, Nigerian author, and inspirational speaker

"While young children do not yet understand the full implication of the power and resource differences they observe around them, seeds of ideas about power and social identity do plant themselves and come to flower more fully in later childhood." - Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010

“If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity." - John F. Kennedy

“We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity, life would be very boring." - Catherine Pulsifer

Inspiration

"We must do things we think we cannot do. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt, Humanitarian, United Nation Delegate

"Imagine all the people living in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." - John Lennon, musician, and songwriter 

"An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends." - Benjamin Franklin

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

"Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be." - Rita Pierson


There are a lot of wonderful early childhood education quotes that help us to find our passion, and inspiration, and support a positive mindset for our work!
You just read a few from an ocean of quotes from people who get inspired using their words!

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Diana A. Rivera is an Early Childhood Educator, with graduate studies in Educational Psychologist, and author of Be the voice for children. Diana believes and commits to the healthy development, growth, well-being, and learning of all children. The blog posts share ideas and knowledge about educational psychology, child and brain development, parenting, diversity, effective teaching practices, early childhood education, and care to support the empowerment of children and families.

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