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Seven Things Connecticut Needs to Know About Early Childhood / In brief

1. The earliest years count - most of the brain’s growth occurs in the first few years of life.
2. Parents and families matter - children learn from birth and need constant care and stimulation as they explore the world.  Parents are a child’s first teachers.
3. School readiness is more than words and numbers - it is important for children to learn not only the foundation skills for reading and math, but also physical, social and emotional skills.
4. School un-readiness costs - when children enter school developmentally behind, they are more likely to have difficulties in school. The ultimate costs to society may include health issues, special education, school retention, delinquency and incarceration.
5. With so many parents working, we need to get this right - 62% of Connecticut’s children under 6 live in families where the sole parent or both parents work.
6. Quality matters - the quality of early childhood programs is crucial:  quality improves development, but poor programs can cause harm.
7. Investments pay off - Connecticut studies show that early education programs save costs by reducing the need for special education and for grade retention, and economists have estimated a 16% rate of return on investments in high quality early learning programs.

* Adapted from a Ready, Set, Grow ... CT Kids campaign newspaper supplement published in The Hartford Courant