Brain Builders: Why Healthy Development in Children is So Important

By Dr. Jack P. Shonkoff and the First Five Years Fund

Letter 7 Resource:

We often talk about brain science and the importance of healthy development in children, but what does that really mean? Check out our video based on the research of Dr. Jack P. Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. During the first five years, a child’s brain is at its most flexible, making this a critical period for learning and growth. Science tells us that children who face adversity in the first years of life, often related to living in poverty, are more at risk for experiencing lifelong effects from toxic stress. Prolonged stress during childhood can do damage to a child’s brain architecture, which can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. Learn more at www.ffyf.org.