BC Council for Families

The Council for Early Child Development has just released a fantastic new resource on the science of early child development. Short, well-written and to the point, it is an excellent read for busy professionals working with parents of young children. In just four pages, it provides a short summary of the field of neuroscience, epigenetics (how environmental factors affect genetic activation and expression), sensitive periods of brain development, examples of how early brain development affects lifelong health, learning, and behaviour, as well as a list of resources for further information.

David Sheftel, program coordinator of the Home Visitor Training Initiative here at the the BC Council for Families, is enthusiastic about the benefits of translating scientific information into plain language that parents and professionals without a science background can understand: “This kind of information is a key part of what the Home Visitor Training is based on — how to help parents to understand the importance of the early years and attachment, and to encourage them to actively participate in their kids’ early childhood development”. A better understanding of the science behind early development can enrich our work with parents of young children.

If you’re looking for a clear and concise overview of human brain development, check out “The Science of Early Child Development”. It’s available for download from the Council for Early Child Development website.