HarvardCenter

ALT A caregiver holding a young child at the grocery store. Quote: "Many times, parents will forgo their own meals to ensure their children can eat. But you can’t be the best you can be for your child if you’re hungry yourself. That’s why we push for taking care of the whole child—and that includes their parents." –LaMonika Jones Director of State Initiatives at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)

ALT A young child looking to the side in a classroom. "Executive function is supported through high-quality interactions, through routines and predictable things happening, all of the kinds of things that really were challenged during the pandemic."-Stephanie M. Jones, PhD / Faculty Director, Center on the Developing Child

ALT A person smiles while holding a child outdoors. The image features the logo for the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. A message reads: "Today, every state has some type of early childhood agenda. We’ve come a long way—twenty years ago, the importance of a child's earliest years was not widely recognized in public discourse or policy.

ALT Silhouette of an adult holding a child's hand inside colorful concentric circles. Text reads "What Shapes Us" above the logo for the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, noting its 20th anniversary.

ALT “Throughout my work, the Center’s frameworks have helped me connect developmental science to practical policy decisions and clear, actionable messages for policymakers.” Aaliyah A. Maxwell, EdD Member, Virginia Board of Education Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, Local, State, and National Engagement, U.S. Department of Education Senior Fellow, Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University 20 Years of Partnership

ALT Text: “As the Center enters its third decade, our core commitment to science synthesis, translation, and communication remains the same... Stephanie M. Jones, PhD Faculty Director Center on the Developing Child Photo of Dr. Jones

ALT Text: But the frame for that work has expanded to include a wide array of influences that shape young children's development and lifelong health... Stephanie M. Jones, PhD Faculty Director Center on the Developing Child Photo of Dr. Jones

ALT Text: Looking ahead to a new era, I am eager to move this work forward—together with staff, faculty, and partners on the ground—in a way that builds on the Center's strengths in service of today's most pressing questions and challenges.” Stephanie M. Jones, PhD Faculty Director Center on the Developing Child Photo of Dr. Jones

ALT Celebrating 20 Years of Impact in Early Childhood

ALT Caregiver holding newborn. Text: To support young children, we need to support caregivers. / Policies and programs that help caregivers—like paid parental leave—can reduce stress and promote stable relationships in the critical months after birth.

ALT Baby smiling at camera. Text: Brains are built over time, from the bottom up. / Our early experiences and exposures shape the architecture of our brain, providing a strong or weak foundation for all future learning, behavior, health, and well-being.

ALT Caregiver holding baby. Text: When it comes to the “nature vs. nurture” debate, it’s nearly always both. / All of a child’s experiences and exposures, along with their timing, interact with their genes to shape the development of their biological systems, including the brain.

ALT Caregiver hugging toddler. Text: Explore our Resource Guide: A Guide to Resilience/ Learning to cope with manageable threats—or positive stress—is critical for developing resilience.

ALT Caregiver comforting young child. Text: Not all stress is harmful. / As children return to school or childcare this week, many will experience positive stress. Swipe to learn more.

ALT Young child walking into school. Text: Positive stress is a normal, brief reaction that is essential for development. / When activated, our stress response systems produce a wide range of reactions that prepare the body to deal with challenges and threats, including increased heart rate.

ALT Teacher and toddler playing together. Text: When a young child has supportive caregiver relationships, these responses are brief and foster the development of a healthy, protective stress response.

ALT Text: Learn more about stress in early childhood at: developingchild.harvard.edu

ALT Caregiver holding smiling baby. Text: Strategies to improve developmental environments: Promote safe, stable housing / Boosting housing availability for families and reducing evictions can help ensure young children and caregivers have a safe, healthy, and consistent place to live.