HarvardCenter

🥰 This is a great example of a serve and return interaction! Starting in a child's earliest days, back-and-forth interactions with a caring adult – just like this video shows – support the development of early language and social skills. Learn more here: bit.ly/3Djjg8m

Children thrive on routines, beginning very early in life. Sleep, for example, is critically important for babies and young children and is deeply affected by routines. 📚 Learn more: bit.ly/3PbD432

Throughout early childhood, stable, responsive interactions with caregivers are essential for healthy development. Learn more in the new working paper from the Early Childhood Scientific Council for Equity and the Environment: bit.ly/3PbD432

📚 Read a new working paper from the Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment that explores how stability shapes children's health and development here: bit.ly/3PbD432

Promoting stability across a young child's developmental environment offers a vital opportunity to support early development and lifelong health. Learn more in the new working paper from the Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment: bit.ly/3PbD432

Young children are more biologically sensitive to most adverse exposures than adolescents and adults, and anything we do to protect children during that time is likely to have significant positive effects on development: bit.ly/3VQ0agl

Feeling relied upon to contribute, even in small ways, helps children see themselves as significant and valued members of their family and community. In other words, it helps them feel like they matter. Learn more about mattering in early childhood: bit.ly/43bXRaX

😂 Just like this video shows - from infancy on, play is an important part of a child’s life! Learn more about the importance of play and find playful, age-appropriate activities for children of all ages here: bit.ly/4h4kPFF

The Center is excited to be part of Thrive From the Start, a group dedicated to ensuring all expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and their families have the resources and opportunities to thrive. Join a webinar on March 5 at 2 PM ET to learn more 👉 bit.ly/4aPDHGM.

Our sense of whether or not we matter begins in the earliest days of infancy. It’s never too late to build a sense of mattering, but by starting early, we can have an outsized positive effect on children’s health and well-being across their lifespan: bit.ly/43bXRaX

We can strengthen a child's sense of mattering by noticing what excites them, asking questions, and listening. This shows the child they are seen and valued for who they are. 📚 Learn more here: bit.ly/43bXRaX

Beginning before birth, the conditions in a child’s developmental environment – such as air quality and access to safe green space– shape their developing brain and biological systems, with impacts on lifelong health and well-being. 📚 Learn more here: bit.ly/4qon7n2

Caregivers need to feel appreciated and supported so they can give their best to the children in their care. Policies and programs that support caregivers—from paid family leave to housing subsidies—help to show caregivers they matter: bit.ly/43bXRaX

When we reduce sources of stress around caregivers raising young children – by increasing access to safe, stable housing, green space, and more – we can support strong caregiver-child relationships and healthy early development. Watch the full video here: bit.ly/3TDMrXP

We work closely with our longtime partners at the FrameWorks Institute to bring the science of framing into our communications. Together, we created a guide that offers evidence-based strategies to communicate about the importance of ECD: bit.ly/4kaSFeS

While new connections in the brain can form throughout life, the first years are critical for establishing a healthy foundation 🧠. This means experiences in early childhood affect future learning, behavior, and health. Learn more here: bit.ly/4hFNFwI

When caregivers listen and respond attentively to young children (just like in this video!) it helps children feel like they matter. A strong sense of mattering in early childhood supports lifelong physical and mental health. Learn more here: bit.ly/43bXRaX

This year, we published a review for pediatric health care providers on key science related to early childhood development, adversity, and resilience. The review includes talking points and resources specifically designed for use in clinical practice: bit.ly/4s46LSK

In 2025, we published a working paper with Jennifer B. Wallace that explores the importance of mattering in early childhood. When our children feel that they matter, it can have an outsized positive effect on their lifelong health and well-being. 📚 bit.ly/43bXRaX