THE CHALLENGE:

ENSURING HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AT-RISK CHILDREN IN THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF LIFE

The human brain develops faster during the first three years than at any other time in life, presenting an exceptional window of opportunity. Children who do not receive adequate nurturing care in their first six years of life tend to have lower academic performance in primary school and higher school drop-out rates2. In the longer term, these children experience lower economic productivity and earnings, health problems such as cardiovascular issues and even higher crime rates. Magnetic scans (MRI) of children’s brains have shown significant changes in the brain structure of children who are exposed to high levels of stress due to e.g., emotional neglect, physical abuse or witnessing violence4.

Around the world, an estimated 250 million children5 ages five and under risk failing to achieve their full developmental potential. While interventions in early years provide very high social returns, corrections in later stages tend to be costly because trends are difficult to reverse. Not only are individual lives improved, but society as a whole benefits: Early Childhood Development is the most cost-effective antidote to inequality6.

Human Brain Development 3

SENSORY PATHWAYS (VISION, HEARING)

2 Shonkoff, J.P. (2012), The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress

3 Adapted from: Nelson Nelson, C. A. (2000). The neurobiological bases of early intervention. Cambridge University Press.

4 Heckman J.J. (2012). Invest in early childhood development: Reduce deficits, strengthen the economy. The Heckman Equation.

5 Black, M. M., et al. (2017). Early childhood development coming of age: science through the life course. The Lancet.

6 World Bank (2018). World Development Report 2018: Learning to Realize Education’s Promise.