All children are born with a new edition of the most powerful brain on the planet, and yet they are unable to even lift their heads or reach for a morsel of food.
Only by experiencing the world through the loving, caring relationships of parents and other supportive adults can a child build that brain into the instrument of a fulfilling and happy life.
Why is infant brain development important?
“With anything young and tender the most important part of the task is the beginning of it; for that is the time at which the character is being formed and the desired impression more readily taken.”
— Plato, The Republic
How do babies learn?
Early childhood education does not need a classroom. Every experience in every waking hour is being “learned” and stored away. Tracking objects with one’s eyes, feeling warmth and encouragement from adults, moving one’s hands and fingers, crawling, walking, running, and turning summersaults are ALL part of early childhood education.
Babies learn language by listening and repeating the new sounds and words they hear. Connections within the brain are formed and strengthened with each interaction with a calm, caring adult in a safe setting.
Parent Education is Essential
There are many methods to encourage this sort of learning. While not difficult, unfortunately most new parents (and many childcare assistants) are not familiar with them—they need parent education! Stress and instability can also derail this learning.
If the cells and connections of this rapidly growing, highly absorbent brain are not used and developed, they are actually “pruned” away, never to return. Without this foundation for learning, a young child’s development falls behind and the so-called “learning gap” has begun, long before formal schooling. A child’s vocabulary upon entering kindergarten can predict their likelihood of finishing high school.
Once a child enters school, remedial classes try to make up for early learning that was missed, but it is much more difficult and expensive. Why not take advantage of the prime time for learning during the first three years?
Public Policy Changes are Needed
With such significant and long-lasting rewards, why does early childhood education get so little attention and such inadequate funding? For one thing, many parents, educators, and government officials are unaware of the science supporting the crucial importance of interactions with adults during a child’s first months and years.
Second, babies and children can’t speak up to demand the attention they need, nor can they make choices to relieve the stress and dangers in their surroundings. They can’t choose a childcare home or center with well paid workers, nor can they prevent their favorite friend from taking a better paying job at Walmart.
Investing in Infant/Toddler Education
Others must speak for them, but busy parents are stressed and need support from the rest of us. Few elected officials are willing to campaign for programs that show results years in the future however life-changing those successes may be. Babies don’t vote and their parents often can’t take time off from work to vote either.
Help for the “Learning Gap”
If we truly aim to prevent learning gaps and lifelong achievement gaps resulting from children arriving at school unready to learn, we know how to do it. If we want to avoid excess incarcerations resulting from illiterate school dropouts, we know how to do that too. We must invest fully in the foundational needs of very young children.
The cost of quality childcare is similar to university tuition and beyond the means of most young parents. College-type loans are not available! Funding for all infants and toddlers is needed. We can achieve this if we fund early education for all infants and toddlers at a level like that is already provided to every child once they reach “school-age”—roughly $10,000 annually. This sort of investment is estimated to save at least $12 dollars for each dollar invested, and untold human costs and grief.
Early Learning and Life-long Health
Getting a poor start in early childhood increases the risk of many chronic health conditions later in life. Problems like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, stroke and shortened lives are often linked to economic and social stress. Substance abuse, despair and suicide are also more frequent.
Although “children can’t wait” was first said in our state government in 1992, over a generation ago, children are still waiting. It’s time to change that. Make sure your elected officials know that this issue is critical to gaining/keeping your vote.
What could be more important to our people, our nation, and our society than for every child to have the best possible start toward a successful, rewarding life, making contributions rather than becoming a burden for others.
How can I help?
Talk to friends and family about the importance of the 1st three years of life.
Support family-friendly initiatives in your neighborhood/park/library.
Contact your County Commissioner, state Representatives and Senators, and your Congressmen and women to ask for increased funding to benefit young children and families.
