Early childhood development: Promoting the potential of all children

摘要

Families are the first and most significant influence on a child's development. They are the architects of the contexts in which children grow, learn, and are nurtured. During the formative years of life, from conception to 8 years of age, also known as the early childhood period, the foundation is laid for physical health, cognitive functioning, social interactions, emotional relationships, and ability to succeed and achieve. The great strides in development in early childhood are the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors demonstrating a lyrical dance between early relationships and the developing brain [1]. Research has also demonstrated early caregiving can alter brain chemistry and architecture in ways that reverse negative development, not just for the immediate generation but also for the subsequent generations [2].