Why is early childhood so important?

Carly Andrews, Executive Director for The Alliance for Early Childhood

Gone are the days of Nature vs. Nurture debates. A child’s development is an interplay between their biology, experiences, and environments. The architecture of the child’s brain and the foundations for their mental health and wellbeing are being built during early years. It is a sensitive period, a time of both risk and potential. As The Center on the Developing Child reminds us, “Healthy development in the early years provides the building blocks for educational achievement, economic productivity, responsible citizenship, lifelong health, strong communities, and successful parenting of the next generation” (Center on the Developing Child, 2023). 

During this sensitive period of a child’s growth, we know that strong, responsive relationships (at home, school, and in the community) are the building blocks of a child’s healthy development. Steady, secure relationships provide important consistency for young children whether 1-day or 4-years old. We know that the cultures of a child’s family and community will shape how they are raised - their languages, their belief systems, and their values. 

In light of this, The Alliance brings programs to you that support your relationships with the young children in your care. We hope to inspire a conversation and provide insights that allow for you, as parents, caregivers, and educators, to shape the work based upon your family, school, and community culture. We don’t believe in one size fits all, and we’ll never bring you a program that provides you with a list of to-dos. We’ll dive in - with you - to the big questions that keep us up at night and the inspiring research that keeps us engaged by the wonder of young children and their fascinating growth and development. 

We are grateful to serve you.

Reference: 

The Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University. (2023). What is Early Childhood Development? A Guide to the Science. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/guide/what-is-early-childhood-development-a-guide-to-the-science/