Child care, day care, preschool — we should invest more in it

High-quality early childhood programs can change the course of a child’s life.  

Right now there’s a white-hot spotlight on access to high-quality, affordable, child care – or lack thereof. The issue has become so prevalent that both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are campaigning heavily on plans aimed at easing the cost barriers many families face when searching for child care options that are both affordable AND developmentally enriching.

{mosads}Parents know that the first few years of life are crucial in terms of their child’s development. In fact, 72 percent of voters say the most important time for developing a child’s capacity to learn is before he or she turns five. Coincidentally, scientists agree. So it’s no surprise that parents want their children to be in safe settings that foster development.

Unfortunately, voters see a critical lack of high-quality, affordable, early learning and care options. Most say that there are only some or very few options that offer high-quality, affordable programs for lower- and middle-income families in their area.

The result? Less than half of children from low-income families have access to the high-quality early childhood programs that could dramatically improve their future opportunities. This statistic is tragic when one considers that skills developed in the first five years of life greatly influence success later in life.

Brains are built and grow through touch, talk, sight, and sound in early childhood experiences. This experiential learning starts long before a child steps foot into a kindergarten classroom. It is strengthened through regular interaction and stimulation in the home and in high-quality early learning settings. Children who experience quality early development demonstrate greater cognitive and social-emotional growth than children who do not.

We can help ensure children show up to kindergarten ready to learn by providing our youngest learners and their families with options to access high-quality early childhood programs from birth through age five. These settings should encourage the development of a child’s full range of skills, which are necessary to succeed in school and life.

At the First Five Years Fund, we recognize that no one program is a silver bullet. A range of quality programs and opportunities exist to address a range of needs. Home-based child care programs, center-based care, state-funded Pre-K, and so many others can offer high-quality early education and development experiences that will provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning and success. And the dedicated professionals who care for and educate these children are just that — professionals.

During this election season, it’s great to see such a focus on the need to support working parents with greater access to affordable early learning and care options. But this is not enough. We must ensure children from low-income families have access to high-quality options — regardless of the early childhood program or service they choose. If we do this, we’re setting them up for success with skills that will last a lifetime. 

Regardless of who is in the White House next year, voters want the next president and Congress to work together to get this done.

Kris Perry is executive director of the First Five Years Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to creating a smarter, stronger, healthier, and more productive America through early childhood education for disadvantaged children through bipartisan federal advocacy.