Brain Building

Begins at Birth

Would you build

A skyscraper on a weak foundation?

It is a scientific fact: the human brain begins to form during pregnancy, and starts building skills at birth. Simple skills come first, followed by more complex ones on top of those.

If you think of the brain as a human skyscraper, a child’s experiences in the early years are how the foundation is built. We all know what could happen if you build a skyscraper on a weak foundation; the same is true for building brains.

A strong foundation in the early years improves the odds for positive outcomes for kids; a weak foundation increases the odds of problems later in life.

Brain Building Begins at Birth Video:

In Brief: The Science of Early Childhood Development

Running Time: (1:57)

Video Featuring: Dr. Jack Shonkoff, Harvard Center on the Developing Child

While children continue to learn and grow well past age five, the foundation of their brain – upon which all their future learning, relationships and health will be built – has already been established. So, the early years represent our best chance to help kids develop a strong foundation, and avoid problems that will be harder –
and more expensive – to fix later on.

Success Starts Before Kindergarten

The job of getting children ready for school starts the day they are born!

In fact, you can predict reading and comprehension levels in 3rd and 4th grade by the general knowledge, attention and vocabulary in the early years.

A child’s environment - and the amount of nurturing and care they get from the adults in their lives - shapes their brain development.

Brain Building Begins at Birth Video:

Brain Builders

Running Time: (3:20)

An animated video from Invest in US, a project from the First Five Years Fund.

When we make sure that kids have positive relationships with adults – at home, in their child care or preschool setting and in our communities – we are helping them build a strong foundation for learning.

Quality early education creates the foundation for a more successful life. Want proof? Early childhood education reduces by 40% the chance a child will need special education or be held back at school.

Not only that, but it results in higher test scores and graduation rates.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Quality early childhood experiences mean our children are likely to make more money, be more successful, and contribute to their communities.

Now, that’s a future we can all look forward to!