Child Development

Who is First 5 Shasta?

We are Shasta County's Prop 10 Commission, dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of young children, pre-natal to age five, and their families. First 5 Shasta is one of fifty-eight county commissions connected to First 5 California, created to administer tobacco tax revenues generated by Proposition 10. Our vision is a Shasta County that works together to create safe, nurturing environments that allow all young children to learn, play and reach their potential as contributing members of society.

For more information, please visit our main web site.

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Why are the first five years of a child's life so important?

Within the last decade, scientific findings have revealed the intensity of brain development that occurs in the earliest years of life. From birth to age five, the human brain develops most rapidly. What happens in a child's life in these early years can positively, or negatively, impact healthy development. The science of brain development has generated four significant findings:

A child's brain is the only organ that is not mature at birth. The brain must receive external stimulation to continue growing and developing after birth. A baby is born with over 100 billion brain cells, or neurons. From birth to age five, connections known as synapses form between neurons. These synaptic connections are strengthened with repeated use and become pathways that guide thinking and behavior.
More Brain Development information is available at: Zero to Three: Brain Wonders From Neurons to Neighborhoods The ABC's of ECD: Brain Development	Experience changes a child's brain. The structure and function of a child's brain are influenced by a combination of genetics and experience. Experience gleaned from relationships and the environment determine how the brain organizes itself. Experience programs and reprograms neural connections. Those that are used repeatedly and frequently become powerful. Beginning around age three, connections that are used less may be eliminated entirely. Early experience informs the brain about which connections to keep, and which ones to lose.
	Timing of experience can be everything. The regions of the brain associated with specific abilities or behaviors become connected at different times. Windows of opportunity are genetically scheduled to open one after another. Some windows open briefly, while others remain open for many years. During such critical or sensitive periods, the regions of the brain become receptive and vulnerable to the influence of experience. This is why offering enriching experiences to young children can actually strengthen the developing circuitry of the brain.

Secure relationships influence positive social and emotional functioning. We know that 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 and other caregivers. When a child feels safe and secure, he can rely on his caregivers to help him manage stress and, eventually, learn how to effectively regulate his own behavior.

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How does promoting healthy brain development in young children help the whole community?

Early childhood is a unique time of life and presents a unique investment opportunity for our community. When investments are made in the years of peak brain development, both children and communities benefit. Children are better prepared for school and to become contributing members of society. Plus, future need for spending on special education, welfare assistance and criminal justice becomes dramatically reduced. As parents, policymakers, business people, caregivers, and community leaders, we must strive to promote healthy development in young children. Focusing on a future in which the whole community thrives begins today, with our children.

For more information: Costs and Benefits of Early Childhood Investment

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Want to learn more about First 5 Shasta's early childhood investment?

First 5 Shasta has invested over $12 million in the young children and families of Shasta County. The majority of our Prop 10 revenues have been committed through grant awards and the establishments of three major initiatives: 1) Early Care Initiative, 2) School Readiness Initiative, and 3) Oral Health Initiative. We continue to pursue investments that will improve the lives of children.
Learn more by visiting our main web site!

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