Dar es Salaam, June 3 -- WHEN young children walk into their preschool classrooms each morning, they are not just finding fun and friends, they are simply entering a critical stage of development that will shape their futures in ways they cant yet imagine.

Experts agree: the early years of a childs life  from birth to age 8 are more than just a prelude to school.

They form the foundation for learning, behaviour and health that lasts a lifetime. Studies show that the first eight years of life are the most significant for brain development, with 90 per cent of brain growth occurring during this period.

Neuroscience backs this up.

During the first few years of life, over one million new neural connections form every second. These co...