Early Childhood Investment

"Those seeking to reduce deficits and strengthen the economy should make significant investments in early childhood education...Make greater investments in young children to see greater returns in education, health, and productivity."

Professor James J. Heckman
Henry Schultz Distinguished Professor Economics, The University of Chicago
Nobel Laureate in Economics

0-to-5: A Period of Extraordinary Development

	Exposure to Experiences
	Exposure to experiences during early childhood stimulates the development of synapses in a young child's brain. Repeated experiences, positive or negative, strengthen these brain connections until a complex network is established that guides thinking and behavior. Frequently used connections become powerful. Those that aren't used begin to be eliminated around age three. For better or worse, early experience informs the brain on which connections to keep, and which ones to lose.
	Windows of Opportunity
	The regions of the brain associated with different abilities or behaviors become connected at different times. Windows of opportunity are genetically scheduled to open one after another and are attached to functions such as sight, hearing, and language. Some windows open briefly, while others remain open for many years. During critical or sensitive periods, the regions of the brain become receptive and vulnerable to the influence of experience. When young children are offered rich, healthy experiences, especially during sensitive periods, the circuitry of the developing brain can actually be strengthened.

Within the past twenty years, scientific findings have revealed the intensity of human brain development that occurs in the earliest years of life. From birth to age five, trillions of synapses form to connect billions of brain cells, or neurons. This explosion of brain development helps the child build a useful brain that guides thinking and behavior. Healthy brain development contributes to intellectual capacity, problem solving, behavior management, memory, and language.

When we dedicate resources to young children during this peak period of brain development, we invest in improved lives, improved experiences, healthy brain development and, ultimately, an improved community.

Social and Emotional Functioning

Relationships are among the most valuable of experiences to the young child. Relationships have a strong influence on social and emotional functioning. Children learn to manage their emotional responses to people and events from the behavior of their parents, guardians, and other caregivers. When children feel safe and secure, they can rely on their caregivers to help them manage stress and, eventually, learn how to effectively regulate their own behavior. Early childhood investment supports improved family functioning and increased quality child care - both directly impacting social and emotional development in young children.

Economic Development Starts at Birth

The research and findings of Professor James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economics, provide significant insight into the value of early childhood investment. His work provides evidence that prevention through early childhood development is more cost-effective than later-in-life remediation. Heckman says "Those seeking to reduce deficits and strengthen the economy should make significant investments in early childhood education." He further declares "investing in disadvantaged young children promotes educational attainment, improves the productivity of the economy, and at the same time reduces social and economic inequality." Applying Heckman's findings to any young child from any family can lead to benefits for any community in the nation, including ours. He considers the very early years of a child's life to be the most economically efficient time to support development of skills and social abilities. "Early nuturing, learning experiences and physical health in early childhood greatly impact success or failure in society."

Community Benefit of Early Childhood Investment

Early childhood is a unique time of life and presents a unique investment opportunity for our community. Investment in the early years of peak brain development pays off with:

• children better prepared for school
• children more likely to grow into contributing members of society
• future spending on special education, welfare assistance, and criminal justice dramatically reduced

Focusing on a future in which the whole community thrives begins today, with our children. As parents, policymakers, business people, caregivers, and community leaders, we must strive to strengthen families and promote healthy development in young children. The many and varied investments we make with young children in mind will benefit both children and our community. Just imagine where they go from here...