The holidays are here once more, ushering in the joyful season of gift-giving!

Yet, all too often, when selecting gifts for our children, we restrict ourselves to the usual—toys, clothes, gadgets, or even cash. In doing so, we overlook one priceless gift that should be our priority: the gift of knowledge.

Corny? Perhaps. Cliché? Likely.

But the truth remains undeniable. As adults, we carry the important responsibility of imparting knowledge and wisdom to our children, and we must embrace this role with renewed vigor. There are many ways we can accomplish this. We can share invaluable life lessons directly with our kids and become actively engaged in their educational journeys. Alternatively, we can provide them with enriching learning materials, particularly books that will ignite their curiosity and foster a love for learning.

By giving them books, we are laying a solid foundation for our children’s lifelong learning at a pivotal time when their minds are most active and inquisitive. Early learning is crucial, with research showing that the scaffolding for complex learning is established during childhood and reinforced as kids grow. Remarkably, up to 90 percent of a child’s brain growth occurs before they turn five, making early childhood education an essential stepping stone for building knowledge in the years to come.

Educational materials, especially books, are instrumental in shaping our children into lifelong learners. It is our duty as parents, guardians, and teachers, to surround our children with captivating books that they can explore, enabling them to accumulate knowledge and ultimately embark on a lifelong appreciation for learning. Thankfully, there is a wide array of books available, featuring over a hundred exciting titles from the country's leading educational publisher, Rex Education, within its acclaimed Little Explorers series.

Launched in December 2022, the Little Explorers lineup is Rex Education’s dedicated brand of early childhood education resources tailor-made for young learners. Each title under Little Explorers is designed to be age-appropriate and aligned with the six developmental domains established by the Early Childhood Care and Development Council from its National Early Learning Framework. These domains are the following:

1. Physical Health, Well-being, and Motor Development: enhancing fine motor skills and hand–eye coordination
2. Social–Emotional Development: fostering empathy, self-awareness, and social interaction
3. Character and Values Development: promoting character-building and values inculcation
4. Cognitive/Intellectual Development: strengthening critical thinking and attention skills
5. Language Development: expanding vocabulary and conversation skills
6. Aesthetic Development: cultivating talent development and creative skills

“As a lifelong learning partner to every Filipino, Rex Education has always believed that investing in early childhood education (ECE) and the foundational development of our children is essential to prepare them for life,” said Don Timothy Buhain, CEO of Rex Education. “With the introduction of our new brand, we aim to spark discussions on the significance of early childhood care and development (ECCD) in the Philippines and empower parents and learning companions with quality, research-based, and age-appropriate learning solutions to kick-start their children’s education even before formal schooling begins.”

In essence, the titles within Rex Education’s Little Explorers series are crafted specifically for young learners, with the overarching goal of guiding them along the path to lifelong learning. Titles such as Meet My Family, World Around Me, and Me, Myself, and I nurture children’s critical thinking while engaging their cognitive and social-emotional development. They also encourage kids to articulate their feelings and enhance their self-awareness through enjoyable, interactive methods.

“We share the aspirations of our Edukampyon parents and guardians, who desire only the best for their children. Therefore, we believe that the richest learning experiences begin at home. Drawing from REX’s extensive research, experience, and partnerships in lifelong and early childhood education, we meticulously crafted Little Explorers to foster strong foundations and promote holistic development in our children as early as possible,” Buhain added regarding Little Explorers.

Ultimately, we all strive to provide our children with nothing but the very best. Yet, giving them the best does not always translate to toys, clothes, or gadgets. Often, our time with them and preparing them for the future represent an even greater gift—and gifting them books is one powerful way to achieve this.