Did you know that the first five years of a child’s life are some of the most critical for brain development? As a child grows, so does their brain – 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five. Neurons are busy making connections in the Cerebral Cortex, (that gray crinkly stuff on the outside of our brains) during brain development. The Cerebral Cortex is responsible for things like memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. The more quality things that a child is exposed to from birth to age five will benefit the neuron connections that may ultimately determine a child’s level of success as an adult.
It is safe to say that as parents we want what is best for our children, most especially when we are entrusting others to care for our children while we are at work. To assist parents who need help to find someone to watch their children, First 5 LA has launched “Quality Child Care Lasts A Lifetime” an outreach campaign to inform parents about the life-long benefits of quality early child care and education and tips to help parents make informed decisions.
The long lasting benefits of quality early childcare are monumental in helping our children grow, develop and mature. Research shows that children who receive quality childcare show more advanced language skills, do better in school, have fewer behavioral problems and develop better social skills; all of these which can lead to success later in life.
To assist parents in finding quality childcare, Ready. Set. Grow! has created a checklist of important key factors to think about and look for while making the decision. You can see the checklist at Ready. Set. Grow!
For more information about the “Quality Child Care Lasts A Lifetime” campaign, please log on to Ready. Set. Grow!
This is part of a compensated campaign with Smith New Media and ReadySetGrowLA.org. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
