Early childhood education (ECE) planning for teaching young children is a process that outlines ways of transmitting concepts and community values to children, sequencing learning experiences, and evaluating how effectively children receive this knowledge. Whether children’s education includes schooling (formalized instruction), learning generated by children’s life experiences, or knowledge and skill acquisition from both, the result enables children to become increasingly aware of themselves as learners and citizens in their world. A plan drafts the what, how, and when of learning. It is essential to achieving the goals of early childhood education. This entry outlines the history and importance of planning in ECE and further explores ECE planning in relation to several key educational theories on learning and curriculum development (e.g., Ralph W. Tyler and ...