Lifelong Gains
Investing in early childhood education creates upward mobility by providing all children with a solid foundation for long-term success in life. These benefits do not end with one child but extend to their entire families and communities in the years to come.
Here are five things to know about child care and lifelong gains.
- Studies show that access to quality early learning programs has a substantial impact on academic outcomes spanning a child’s life, from starting kindergarten more prepared to making it more likely they’ll graduate from high school and even go on to finish college.
- Access to affordable, high-quality child care lowers parent stress and supports stable caregiving, reducing children's risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
- High-quality early learning and care programs have demonstrated the ability to increase education and employment outcomes for both children and their families.
- Research finds that children in high-quality preschool programs engage in healthier eating habits and are less likely to have hypertension and high blood pressure later in life.
- Early learning and care has been shown to help children develop key life skills, such as managing their emotions, working well with others, and forming positive relationships—laying a strong foundation for their overall growth and future success.