{"id":31052,"date":"2022-11-01T12:26:08","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T20:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging2.threadalaska.org\/thread\/business-community\/importance-early-childhood\/why-it-matters-copy\/"},"modified":"2023-06-14T10:52:15","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T18:52:15","slug":"why-it-matters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/thread\/policy-and-research\/why-it-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Early Childhood Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Why Early Childhood Matters<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Did you know that positive experiences, starting at birth, set the foundation for lifelong success?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Solid Foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Studies from Harvard University<\/a> show that early childhood is the most important time in life for brain development. 90 percent of a child\u2019s brain development happens before age 5. In the first few years of life, more than 1 million new brain connections are formed every second. This development is critical to the foundation of all future learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Research from Center on the Development Child at Harvard University<\/a> finds that early experiences are likely to have as much impact on health as on school achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brain architecture is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues into adulthood. The quality of that architecture is influenced by early life experiences and creates either a sturdy or fragile foundation for all the capabilities and behavior that follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fragile start impacts a child long term. Toxic stress and early trauma on the brain can greatly affect the healthy development needed for social and other skills like the ability to concentrate, impulse control, expressing emotions, relationship-building and the ability to positively participate in and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are negative events in a young child\u2019s life such as poverty, abuse, parental divorce, parental death, or living with a family member with mental illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The State of Alaska<\/a> reports 16 percent of children aged birth to 5 experience at least two ACEs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we age, the brain loses its flexibility, which is why intervening early is so important. Researchers will tell you that when it comes to brain circuitry, it\u2019s better to get it right the first time than to try to fix it later. The good news is that high-quality early care and education gives children the strong foundation they need for success in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Workforce Stability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Child care is a two-generation workforce issue because it is essential to supporting the workforce of today and vital to developing our workforce of tomorrow. Studies show that children with access to high-quality early childhood education do better in school and are more likely to be employed, be healthy, and earn higher income later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a healthy early start builds a strong workforce for tomorrow, businesses in Alaska need a strong and competitive workforce today in order to thrive. Research shows<\/a> the most efficient way to boost productivity and create overall workforce success over the next few decades is to invest in early care and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to 2019, the Child Care Action Campaign (CCAC)<\/a> found that U.S. companies were losing $3 billion annually as a consequence of child care related absences. Many parents miss work because of issues surrounding early childhood education program access, causing the business to suffer productivity loss. Issues of high-quality early care and education take time to resolve, and that time is most often during the work day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To combat this issue, some companies have instituted on-site programs designed to fill family short and long-term needs. A growing body of national research strongly suggests that the most efficient means to boost productivity in the workforce over the next few decades is to invest in today\u2019s youngest children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, a US Chamber of Commerce Foundation<\/a> study found that there is tremendous untapped economic potential in states if child care challenges are solved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Critical Investment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 90,000 children under 13 years of age are potentially in need of early care and education services in Alaska. Therefore, investment in the early care and education industry plays a critical role in the state\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2019 local McDowell Group report<\/a> shows that Alaska\u2019s early care and education industry is unique in the breadth of its contribution to the economy. The industry supports: 7,700 jobs for caregivers and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n