The
First Five
Years
A Transformative Investment
You’re dropped into a board game.
You don’t know the rules.
Your first move determines the rest of the game.
oh...and you have 5 seconds
The game?
PARENTHOOD
These are
the First Five Years
The first five years of a child’s life is the most critical period of brain development. The experiences a child has during this time- both positive and negative- have an impact on outcomes far into adulthood.
If you had to guess, what percentage of brain development occurs between 1-5 years old?
90%
As much as 80% of brain development happens by age 3 and 90% by age 5. In these 5 years, sleeping or awake, a child is creating 1 million neural connections every single second.
This extraordinary burst of connection shapes the foundation for learning, development, and future success.
In the first years of life, the brain is building connections that form the foundation of sensory pathways, language, and higher cognitive functions.
REFLECT
What do you think matters most to ensure a strong early foundation for a child?
We know one thing for certain: relationships are the key.
Overwhelming research demonstrates the importance of the relationship between a child and the adults in their life. The quantity and quality of those early experiences directly impacts the construction of the neural building blocks that are setting the stage for a child’s future success.
We also know the things that can impact the quality and quantity of those early relationships.
REFLECT
Which of these did you have access to as a child or as a parent? What do you think happens if a caregiver doesn't have access to these things?
THE PARENTHOOD
GAME
Now we know a bit more about the game.
The stakes are high
Time is limited
Relationships are crucial
But in real life, not every caregiver starts
off with the same set of resources.
Now we know a bit more about the game.
The stakes are high
Time is limited
Relationships are crucial
But in real life, not every caregiver starts
off with the same set of resources.
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