Shaping the Brains of Tomorrow
What developmental science teaches about the importance of investing early in children
by Ross A. Thompson
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The research article "Shaping the Brains of Tomorrow: what developmental science teaches about the importance of investing early in children," written by Ross Thompson, stresses the need for investing in early childhood interventions geared towards improving the odds of healthy development for children at risk. Continuing research shows that positive early childhood experiences are directly correlated to more effective learning capacities in the future; meaning that healthy brain development relies heavily on nurturing relationships. Subsequently, negative experiences during early childhood can result in detrimental effects in developing brains that can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and health.
According to the article, a considerable amount of research shows that many children who experience deprived or high-risk conditions will "lag intellectually from infancy and suffer deficiencies in various facets of healthy psychological development" (Thompson, 2004).
Thompson discusses researchers are further investigating how relational problems, such as the challenges faced by an infant of a depressed mother, influence brain development. Early childhood experiences, in fact, have far-reaching effects.
On the upside, there are in fact successful strategies and interventions, especially "programs that emphasize child-focused educational activities and parent-child interaction, and are governed by specific practices matched to clear goals, which can be implemented to combat the negative effects of these conditions. But accessibility and cost prove to be an extreme hurdle to receiving any services. According to Thompson, the most effective interventions are rarely simple, inexpensive, or easy to implement (2004). "Changing the developmental trajectory of a young child growing up in deprived circumstances requires determination, persistence, and patience" (Thompson, 2004).
The main reason these interventions are not universally supported is simply COST. Policymakers are too focused on the cost-effectiveness of supporting policies that would encourage healthy early childhood development. However, Thompson reveals that several studies of "comprehensive early-intervention efforts have found that program costs are more than compensated by averted costs of educational remediation, juvenile or adult crime, and diminished job earnings" (Thompson, 2004). Meaning there is scientific research supporting the demand for investing in early childhood development, so why hasn't society made a push towards implementing these policies? The reason is they converge with the economics of public policy. Investment in early childhood development is a focus of concern that should prudent and important.
Thompson explicitly states the public policies that are needed to support healthy early childhood development. They include"
- "child-care policies that ensure widespread access to affordable, high-quality child care;
- welfare-reform policies that enable parents to integrate work and family responsibilities constructively in children's interests;
- prenatal and postnatal health care that screens children for developmental difficulties before they become severe, guarantees adequate nutrition, provides early visual and auditory screening, and protects young children from debilitating diseases and hazardous exposure to environmental toxins" (Thomspon,2004)
Become aware of these policies, advocate for healthy early-childhood development and do research when electing public officials!! Advocate, and stress the importance of investing in early childhood development!!!
The research article "Shaping the Brains of Tomorrow: what developmental science teaches about the importance of investing early in children," written by Ross Thompson, stresses the need for investing in early childhood interventions geared towards improving the odds of healthy development for children at risk. Continuing research shows that positive early childhood experiences are directly correlated to more effective learning capacities in the future; meaning that healthy brain development relies heavily on nurturing relationships. Subsequently, negative experiences during early childhood can result in detrimental effects in developing brains that can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and health.
According to the article, a considerable amount of research shows that many children who experience deprived or high-risk conditions will "lag intellectually from infancy and suffer deficiencies in various facets of healthy psychological development" (Thompson, 2004).
According to the article, a considerable amount of research shows that many children who experience deprived or high-risk conditions will "lag intellectually from infancy and suffer deficiencies in various facets of healthy psychological development" (Thompson, 2004).
Thompson discusses researchers are further investigating how relational problems, such as the challenges faced by an infant of a depressed mother, influence brain development. Early childhood experiences, in fact, have far-reaching effects.
On the upside, there are in fact successful strategies and interventions, especially "programs that emphasize child-focused educational activities and parent-child interaction, and are governed by specific practices matched to clear goals, which can be implemented to combat the negative effects of these conditions. But accessibility and cost prove to be an extreme hurdle to receiving any services. According to Thompson, the most effective interventions are rarely simple, inexpensive, or easy to implement (2004). "Changing the developmental trajectory of a young child growing up in deprived circumstances requires determination, persistence, and patience" (Thompson, 2004).
The main reason these interventions are not universally supported is simply COST. Policymakers are too focused on the cost-effectiveness of supporting policies that would encourage healthy early childhood development. However, Thompson reveals that several studies of "comprehensive early-intervention efforts have found that program costs are more than compensated by averted costs of educational remediation, juvenile or adult crime, and diminished job earnings" (Thompson, 2004). Meaning there is scientific research supporting the demand for investing in early childhood development, so why hasn't society made a push towards implementing these policies? The reason is they converge with the economics of public policy. Investment in early childhood development is a focus of concern that should prudent and important.
Thompson explicitly states the public policies that are needed to support healthy early childhood development. They include"
- "child-care policies that ensure widespread access to affordable, high-quality child care;
- welfare-reform policies that enable parents to integrate work and family responsibilities constructively in children's interests;
- prenatal and postnatal health care that screens children for developmental difficulties before they become severe, guarantees adequate nutrition, provides early visual and auditory screening, and protects young children from debilitating diseases and hazardous exposure to environmental toxins" (Thomspon,2004)
Become aware of these policies, advocate for healthy early-childhood development and do research when electing public officials!! Advocate, and stress the importance of investing in early childhood development!!!
Thompson (2004). Shaping the Brains of Tomorow: What developmental science teaches about the importance of investing early in children. The American Prospect. (15)(11) 16-17
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