For instance, brain development does not switch off at age 3 or 5. It begins before birth, continues throughout life, and is influenced by both nature and nurture, science shows. By and large, what currently exists for America s children is a mixed bag of policies and practices some based on solid knowledge and some based on little evidence that they actually promote children s well-being, said the committee that wrote the report. Given 40 years of scientific research, coupled with dramatic social and economic changes in recent decades, the nation should re-examine policies that affect young children and bolster its investments in their development. Furthermore, children s social and emotional needs should receive investments and attention similar to those devoted to kids academic advancement.
Early relationships are especially critical to a child s development.
Federal policy-makers should recognize the importance of strong early bonds by expanding coverage of the Family and Medical Leave Act to all working parents, the committee said. Additionally, society should value those who care for children when their parents are not available, the report says. To confront the existing hodgepodge of programs, policies, and practices, the next president should establish a task force of officials on all levels to review the entire portfolio of public investments in child care and early childhood education. The final product should be a 10-year plan that focuses on ways to improve the quality of care in a range of settings, and addresses the needs of children with developmental impairments or disabilities, and of those with chronic health conditions, the report says. The Science of Early Childhood Development.