CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Why Focus On Early Childhood?

• Research proves attention to children's physical, mental and emotional development in early childhood vital to their success
• Birth to 6 are most important in human brain development, a child's brain triples in weight between birth and age 3 and by age five 90% of brain development is complete
• 100 billion infant brain cells wired through early experiences
• Early relationships have long-term impact on abilities to learn and regulate emotions, and by age 4 children have developed half of their ability to learn

Early Childhood Study Results

Results of a landmark, long-term study of effects of high-quality early care & education on low-income three and four-year-olds revealed that adults at age 40 who participated in preschool programs in their early years have:

• Higher earnings
• Greater likelihood of holding a job
• Fewer crimes committed
• Greater likelihood of having graduated from high school
• High/Scope Perry Preschool Study documented overall return to society of more than $17 for every tax dollar invested in early care and education programs.
• Yet nationally, public spending for children and youth is at its lowest for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children (birth to six), when psychosocial and cognitive development is most critical (High/Scope Perry Preschool Study through Age 40).