Resources for Early Childhood Development

The Raising of America

EPISODE 1: THE SIGNATURE HOUR. The science is clear: when parents are stressed, babies pay the price. That is why improving conditions for families with young children is one of the best investments any nation can make.

Are We Crazy About Our Kids?

Economists are clear: investing in high-quality early care and education is good for our kids and communities, and even pays for itself many times over. So, why aren’t we investing?

Once Upon a Time

Imagine how things would be different today if high-quality childcare and pre-K was affordable and available to every family who wanted it. It almost happened.

The Family Leave Shuffle

Paid leave is the rule, not the exception, in every other rich and middle income nation. How is it that in the wealthiest nation on earth we ask so many parents to make a trade-off: you can take time to recover from childbirth, bond with and nurture your new baby, but you’ll have to forfeit your pay?

Who's Paid What?

Since helping our babies and young children thrive is one of the most vital jobs in any nation, the people who do this work in the U.S. must be paid well, right?

High/Scope Perry Preschool Study

The High/Scope Perry Preschool study examined the short- and long-term effects of a high-quality preschool education program for young children living in poverty, collecting data on the students through age 40. The program operated from 1962 to 1967 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Trailer - Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time allows us to imagine how things might be different if all of America’s children had access to high-quality early care and education—in fact, we almost did.

Was Perry Preschool Worth It?

The students attending this high-quality early ed program were followed for 50 years. What did we learn?

Billions for Corporations...or Childcare?

Families are expected to do it alone. Yet other sectors of our society receive billions in state support.

Utah Invests in Preschool

A Salt Lake City school district is closing the achievement gap and radically cutting special ed costs by investing early in high-quality preschool.

DNA Is Not Destiny

How do our social environments (nurturing, toxic, and in-between) alter the epigenetic ‘dimmer switches’ that turn our genes on and off—with enduring consequences?

Do You Have Paid Maternity Leave?

Every major economy on the planet assures paid maternity or family leave – except the U.S.

High-Quality Childcare is a Top Military Priority

The nation’s single largest employer provides government funded childcare. It’s high-quality and it’s affordable.

America Would Explode in Creativity

The capacity of the brain and the human spirit to continue and thrive and develop is beyond what any of us could predict.

Government Funded Childcare During WWII

When women were suddenly propelled into the workforce during WWII, the government responded.

The Child Olympics (PDF)

This PDF takes you through the screens of the Child Olympics activity. We see that the United States performed poorly in the latest Child Olympics - in infant mortality, child poverty, preschool enrollment and high school graduation.

Babies in Finland Sleep in Boxes?

The Amygdala-Prefrontal Cortex Connection is Crucial

Scientists detected changes in the brain architecture of 18 year-olds whose parents had reported being under chronic stress when those same adolescents were babies.

Trailer - Are We Crazy About Our Kids?

Economists rarely turn their attention to the world of early childhood and preschool. But with a wealth of scientific research pointing to the importance of a child’s earliest years, several economists are worried about our investments in early childhood.

Trailer - The Raising of America (11 min)

The Raising of America reframes the way we look at early child health and development. This ambitious documentary series and multimedia initiative by the producers of UNNATURAL CAUSES: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? explores how a strong start for all our kids leads not only to better individual life course outcomes (learning, earning and physical and mental health) but also to a healthier, safer, better educated and more prosperous and equitable America.

Discussion Guide - Are We Crazy About Our Kids?

Discussion Guide for Are We Crazy About Our Kids? (Episode 3)

Do These Numbers Add Up? Early Childhood in America

How are we doing in caring for our children? Are we setting our children—and our nation—up for success?

Trailer - The Raising of America (30 sec)

This is the 30-second trailer that you can embed on your website for The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation, the 5-part documentary series that seeks to reframe the way Americans look at early childhood health and development.

When Congress Passed Childcare for All

Then Senator (and former VP) Walter Mondale describes how a bi-partisan Congress assured high-quality childcare and other services from birth to age five for every family that wanted it back in 1971.

China Invests Billions in Early Ed

Nations around the world are investing heavily in early care and ed - and don’t understand why the U.S. isn’t.