Why Early Learning Matters

Did you know that high-quality early learning opportunities in a child’s youngest years are key for future success well beyond the classroom? Research shows that children with access to early learning experiences have better outcomes not only in school, but in life! 

In fact, the formative years from birth to age five can be more important developmentally than any other time in a child’s life.  Giving your child a good start can make their entire life journey easier.  Learn more about why these critical years are so vital to their success, and how you can help put your child on a winning path.

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Out of the mouths of babes. Take seven minutes to watch the Ted Talk below and learn, from 7-year old Molly Wright, how the first five years of their life are the most important for every child. Especially your own. Learn the science behind why this developmental stage can be a literal game-changer, with a game of peek-a-boo.

Did you know?

  • 90% of brain growth happens before the age of 5, when a child typically begins kindergarten.

    — FirstThingsFirst.org

  • “Soft skills” such as negotiation skills, self-regulation, impulse control, learning to follow rules, language skills, and cooperation with others are as important if not more important than traditional cognitive skills such as reading, writing, and math when determining success in school, work and life.

    — First2000days.org

  • “There are only 2,000 days between the time a baby is born and when that child shows up for the first day of kindergarten. When we invest in children’s earliest years, we get a lifetime of results for our children, our community, our state and our economy.”

    — Smart Start & The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.

  • Nobel Prize winning economist James Heckman’s research shows 7%-10% return on investment based on increased school and career achievement as well as reduced costs in remedial education, health, and criminal justice system expenditures.

    — Heckmanequation.org

  • Quality early childhood education is a cost-efficient strategy for reducing deficits and promoting growth.

    – First Five Years Fund

  • After age 3, the brain begins to prune itself: the neural connections that are used frequently become more secure while the others fade away. Essentially, the brain loses what it doesn’t use.

    – Zero to Three