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Early Childhood

The first five years of life are a critical period of development that sets the stage for lifelong health and learning. While these early years are a time during which young children are particularly vulnerable to scarcity and instability, they also represent a key opportunity for proactively strengthening child and family well-being. Having access to high-quality, affordable child care with wraparound supports, for instance, has been linked to long-term improvements in health, learning, and economic stability, particularly for children from low-income families. Some policies and programs have been successful in reducing child poverty over time, but broader policy decisions and long-standing underinvestment have largely failed to account for the needs of young children and their families. Systemic inequities in access to basic needs—such as housing, food, healthy environments, and financial security—disproportionately affect marginalized and low-income communities, exacerbating disparities that have lasting, intergenerational consequences.

Investing in our nation’s early childhood system represents an investment in our families, communities, and economy. Proactive, holistic policies are necessary to ensure that all children have access to healthy, safe, and supportive environments in which to grow and thrive.

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Early Childhood Policy

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Hear From a Pediatrician: How Extreme Heat Endangers Children’s Health and What We Can Do About It Video

Hear From a Pediatrician: How Extreme Heat Endangers Children’s Health and What We Can Do About It

Dr. Debra Hendrickson, clinical professor of pediatrics and author of The Air They Breathe, explains the risks extreme heat and climate change pose to children's health and the actions parents, communities, and policymakers can take to protect them.

Allie Schneider, Hailey Gibbs, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, 1 More Olivia Mowry

Executive Summary: Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development Fact Sheet
The sun sets in New York City as children cool off.

Executive Summary: Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development

This fact sheet summarizes a recent Center of American Progress report highlighting the need for policymakers to take steps to develop heat standards for children and support infrastructure improvements to ensure schools, child care centers, and communities are safe and healthy places for children.

Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, 1 More Lisette Partelow

Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development Report
Children cool off by playing in a fountain in Brooklyn’s Domino Park, New York, during a heat wave.

Protecting Children From Extreme Heat Is Critical for Their Health, Learning, and Development

As climate change intensifies extreme heat around the globe, policymakers must take steps to develop heat standards for children and support infrastructure improvements to ensure schools, child care centers, and communities are safe and healthy places for children.

Allie Schneider, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Hailey Gibbs, 1 More Lisette Partelow

States Are Taking Action To Address the Child Care Crisis Article
An empty classroom is pictured at a New Glarus, Wisconsin, child care center.

States Are Taking Action To Address the Child Care Crisis

Federal COVID-19 relief funding for child care stabilization grants ended in September 2023, but a number of states have stepped up this year to address the child care needs of working families.

Anna Lovejoy

Building a Comprehensive State Child Care Agenda Past Event

Building a Comprehensive State Child Care Agenda

Join CAP's Early Childhood Policy team to learn how the recently released data dashboard and state policymaker toolkit can be used to increase investments in child care and early learning programs.

Data Dashboard: An Overview of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States Report
Preschool students in Washington, D.C., are joined by the interim chancellor for District of Columbia Public Schools.

Data Dashboard: An Overview of Child Care and Early Learning in the United States

The Center for American Progress has developed a data dashboard that allows users to explore national- and state-level data trends on a range of child care and early learning topics, including access to affordable care, the child care workforce, Head Start, and exclusionary discipline policies.

Allie Schneider, Hailey Gibbs

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Related Priorities

Building an Economy for All

Building an Economy for All

Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.

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