The Importance of Early Childhood

Impacted by the ever-growing fields of neuroscience, child development, education and family resilience, policy and decision-makers in Vermont, and nation-wide, have recognized the importance of investments supporting the healthy development and well-being of children and families. The positive returns on early childhood investments are well-documented.

Emerging science clearly shows that:

• The first five years are the most critical time in human development
  • 90% of human brain growth happens before kindergarten
  • One million new brain connections form every second within the first 5 years of life
  • The basic architecture of the brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood. 
• Early experiences and patterns of development affect the quality of that architecture by establishing either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for all of the development, learning, health and behavior that follow.

Below are four of the ways that Building Bright Futures and Vermont Early Childhood partners inform Early Childhood Policy so that our children and their families have a strong foundation.