ONORIODE OGHENTEGA PRECIOUS

This study examined the adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in early childhood learning in Nigeria through the development and evaluation of an interactive educational system designed for kindergarten children. The study was motivated by the challenges associated with traditional teaching methods, including limited learner engagement, inadequate educational resources, and the need for innovative approaches to enhance literacy development among young learners. The primary objective was to develop an interactive educational database that supports alphabet learning and promotes literacy skills through engaging, child-friendly activities. A survey research design was adopted, and data were x collected using structured questionnaires administered to teachers in selected public and private schools in Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 25 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that teachers strongly support the integration of interactive educational technologies into kindergarten education, with all respondents agreeing that such systems can enhance learner engagement and learning outcomes. The study also identified major challenges facing kindergarten education, including inadequate funding, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of technical support. Based on the findings, an interactive educational system was designed and implemented using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js). The system incorporates interactive games, colorful graphics, personalized learning features, and curriculum-aligned educational content. The study concludes that ICT- driven educational systems have significant potential to improve early childhood learning in Nigeria by making learning more engaging, accessible, and effective. It recommends increased investment in educational technology infrastructure, teacher training, parental involvement, and the development of culturally relevant digital learning resources to support the successful adoption of ICT in early childhood education..