The Proof and The Evidence: Why the First Three Years Matter
Decades of research consistently demonstrate the profound impact of early experiences on a child’s development. We have the proof on why the first three years of life are a critical period for brain growth and laying the foundation for cognitive, social, and emotional well-being.
Proof: By the third birthday, 70% to 80% of the baby’s cognitive capacity is set.
This largely defines the child’s ability to succeed in school and career earning levels.
(Sources: George Halvorson, Former CEO of Kaiser-Permanente; Dr. Roberta Golinkoff, University of Delaware, Research Scientist.)
A child who is read to, talked to, sung to, played with, is not only happier today, but will have a better cognitive capacity – a better chance to live a fuller, more productive life. A 20-year study release in 2014 showed that children from disadvantaged households who received high-quality stimulation at a young age grew into adults who earned an average of 25% more than those who did not receive these interventions. And yet, it’s estimated that governments worldwide spend less than 2% of their education budgets on early childhood learning programmes.
(Source: World Economic Forum)
57%
of U.S. adults 16-74 years old
(about 130 million people) lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.
(Source: U.S. Department of Education, Sept. 2020)
80%
of those living below the poverty threshold
fail to develop reading proficiency by the end of the 3rd grade.
(Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
Proof: From birth to age 3, infants and toddlers experience the most rapid physical, cognitive, and emotional development of their lives.
While research makes the case for investing in policies that support early development, infants and toddlers are seldom in the forefront of policy agendas.
(Source: Zero to Three – State of Babies Yearbook, 2019)
19th
America’s rank in Literacy and 28th in the percentage of 4-year olds in early childhood education.
Further, 1 in 3 children start kindergarten without the needed language skills to be reading ready.
(Sources: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics)
1/3
of America’s high school graduates are not workforce-ready
to compete for meaningful 21st-century jobs. Among the 36 leading countries, the United States ranks 34th on public spending on early childhood education and care as a percent of GDP.
(Sources: StriveTogether.org; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) PF3.)
The science of early brain development illustrates that child development – practically for birth to five years – is a foundation for a prosperous and sustainable society.”
(Source: Jack P. Shonkoff, The Council for Early Child Development, Harvard)
$2.2T
would be generated by the u.s. oR 10% of total us gdp in annual income
if all adults reached a six-grade reading level.
(Source: The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy / Gallop Study)
13%
return investment per year
High-quality birth-to-five programs for disadvantaged children can deliver fail to develop reading proficiency by the end of the 3rd grade.
(Source: James J. Heckman, Nobel Laureate. University of Chicago)
1.2M
Million students drop out of high school
80%
end up interfacing with the prison system
(Sources: Do Something. U.S. Census Bureau)
75%
Crimes are committed by them
Extensive research shows us that the brain’s growth and capacity to change (plasticity) are greatest in the first 3-5 years of life. Interventions and programs focused on early childhood are not only more likely to be impactful but have potential to provide tremendous return on investment compared to those attempting to “rewire the brain” by addressing academic, vocational and other problems later in life.
(Source: Dr. John Hutton, MD. MS. Pediatrician and Clinical Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)
<2%
of LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, education budgets are allocated to pre-primary education
(Source: UNICEF)
77%
OF AMERICAn YOUTH CAN’T QUALIFY FOR MILITARY SERVICE
(Source: U.S. Dept of Defense, Office of People Analytics (2022), 2020 Qualified Military Available (QMA) Study)
