Early Child Development: ; Put W.Va. Children First with Top-Notch Program

Summary

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FROM the moment they are born, children's brains are shaped by the world around them. In fact, 85 percent of the brain's potential develops by age 3. Our children's first interactions with Mom, Dad, and other caring adults lay the foundation for future success. Because most working parents must rely on child care outside the home during these critical years, West Virginia needs a high- quality early child development system. This system must 1) put the needs of children and parents first, and 2) recognize the proven link between investments in children's potential and the future prosperity of our state.

The 2006 KIDS COUNT Data Book underscores the need for greater investment in our young children. In West Virginia, 60,000 children under age 6 have parents in the work force, and all of these children receive some form of child care. Yet only 9 percent of the state's child-care centers are nationally accredited. This tells us that the majority of parents do not have access to high-quality child care. Also, this provides the justification to improve our children's earliest experiences and put investments in young children first.

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Early Child Development: ; Put W.Va. Children First with Top-Notch Program

High-quality early child development programs not only help our children, they help increase our economic prosperity as a community. Four longitudinal studies have found ...

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