Research Benefits Children and Families

Research benefits children. Without research we would not have the understanding of child development we have now. The body of knowledge that research contributes, the questions that it answers based on early childhood, uncovering and enabling the emergence of new understandings and insights, the ideas that it provides that foster the development of early childhood professionals, makes research indeed essential.

Dr. Jack Shonkoff, a pediatrician and a director of Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, a leading research scientist through his brain development research affirms that what happens to children from birth to five is tough to overcome and unlikely to be undone.

Here is a video excerpt with Dr. Jack Shonkoff about the Toxic Effects of Stress on Early Development.




Here is a link to a facts sheet on toxic stress and it effects.

Toxic Stress and its Effects

Here is the link to the report by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child explaining how persistent highly adverse experiences actually damage a child's brain circuits

Excessive stress disrupts the architecture of the developing brain.

From these reports and findings we can see how intensive and prolonged stress can disrupt early brain development and compromise functioning of the nervous and immune systems. It is because of such revolutionary research that we now have the knowledge about the impact of stress on the developing brain. As a result of such scientific research there are sufficient evidence-based implications to develop and implement policies that affect the health and well-being of young children. We now know, both public and private actions can prevent the adverse circumstances capable of damaging a child’s healthy development. Healthy development in the early years lays the foundations for a successful economically productive society. Communities need innovative educational, health and social solutions to address the toxic stress in children’s lives. Therefore investment in our youngest children is necessary as our future depends on them. What happens to them from birth to five shapes the rest of their lives! There is no do over’s in raising children!