July 7, 2009
In 2007, the Harvard University Center on the Developing Child, published a concept paper based on scientific research, The Science of Early Childhood Development (2007). Among so many important concepts, the study printed the following list of what it terms the “Core Concepts of Development”:
- Child development is a foundation for community development and economic development, as capable children become the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society.
- Brains are built over time.
- The interactive influences of genes and experience literally shape the architecture of the developing brain, and the active ingredient is the “serve and return” nature of children’s engagement in relationships with their parents and other caregivers in their family or community.
- Both brain architecture and developing abilities are built “from the bottom up,” with simple circuits and skills providing the scaffolding for more advanced circuits and skills over time.
- Toxic stress in early childhood is associated with persistent effects on the nervous system and stress hormone systems that can damage developing brain architecture and lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health.
- Creating the right conditions for early childhood development is likely to be more effective and less costly than addressing problems at a later age.
The paper contains important information and research conducted by many highly-regarded, well-trained specialists in human development; I plan to refer to it over and over again. My question is, if Harvard came out with this study in 2007, why are policymakers not listening? If we are in fact aware that childhood mistreatment directly impacts society as a whole, then why are large amounts of budget dollars not being allocated to the parenting education and child abuse prevention? Why are child welfare programs some of the first to be cut from budgets, instead of the first to be prioritized?