Healthy development during the earliest years of life—especially from birth to age three—lays the foundation for future success in education, economic productivity, responsible citizenship, lifelong health, strong communities, and effective parenting. What actions can we take during this crucial period to ensure children build a solid base for growth? The Center on the Developing Child created this Guide to Early Childhood Development (ECD) to help parents, caregivers, practitioners, and policymakers understand the significance of early development and discover ways to support children and families throughout this vital stage.
Step 1: Why Is Early Childhood Important?
This section introduces the scientific evidence linking early experiences from before birth through early childhood to future learning abilities, behaviors, and both physical and mental health.
Brain Hero
This 3-minute video demonstrates how the choices and actions of parents, educators, policymakers, and others influence life outcomes for children and their communities.
InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development
Part of the InBrief video series, this resource explains foundational concepts of early childhood development grounded in decades of neuroscience and behavioral research.
InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development
This brief highlights how insights from early brain development science can guide investments in early childhood programs and explains why development from birth to age five is critical for building a thriving, sustainable society.
Step 2: How Does Early Child Development Happen?
Having understood the importance of ECD, this section explores the science more deeply, showing how early experiences and relationships shape brain architecture, and how toxic stress exposure can harm this development.
Three Core Concepts in Early Development
Thanks to advances in neuroscience, molecular biology, and genomics, we now better understand how early experiences are embedded in our bodies and brains, for good or ill. This three-part video series offers detailed explanations.
8 Things to Remember about Child Development
Featured in the From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts report, this essential list from the Center on the Developing Child clarifies key truths about early childhood development.
InBrief: The Science of Resilience
This brief outlines resilience science and illustrates why recognizing resilience is important for designing policies and programs that help children achieve their full potential.
Step 3: What Can We Do to Support Child Development?
Recognizing the role early experiences and relationships play in lifelong development is just the first step. This section focuses on applying that knowledge in practical ways for practitioners and policymakers to support ECD and improve outcomes for children and families.
From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts
This report distills 15 years of major scientific progress in early brain development and offers a framework to drive innovation based on science in early childhood policy and practice.
Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families
By understanding how experiences from birth (including prenatal) shape lifelong success, as well as the key skills adults need to flourish, policymakers and community leaders can build a shared, more effective strategy to support children and families.