{"id":630,"date":"2013-08-21T19:42:06","date_gmt":"2013-08-21T19:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/?page_id=630"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:42:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T16:42:37","slug":"dh-3-1-investing-in-early-child-development","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/dh-3-1-investing-in-early-child-development\/","title":{"rendered":"DH 3.1 Advocating for early child development"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2011\/10\/BabySydney-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6937\" title=\"BabySydney\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Making the case for investing in early child development must stand on a solid rationale. How the rationale is communicated matters too.&nbsp;On this page we look at some practical ways to increase both awareness and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listen to the late Dr. Fraser Mustard,&nbsp;founder of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and co-founder of the Council for Early Childhood Development,&nbsp;explain the importance of investing in early child development. He talks about equity in a population. This is another way of talking about flattening the gradient &#8211; reducing the gap between people with the highest and lowest outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-5xoF0 wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Mustard- why invest in early development (2:23)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90188575?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-mustard-why-invest-in-early-development\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mustard- why invest in early development &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2012\/03\/playingfield1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/files\/2012\/03\/playingfield1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3477\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">click to enlarge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jacques Van der Gaag, a leading global economist advocates a &#8220;level playing field&#8221;. Early child development affects education, health, the social capital, and the overall equality of societies that is key for stable societies and economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may seem like common sense to say that it is better to prevent a problem from occurring rather than trying to repair it later on. However, many countries&#8217; policies and programs don&#8217;t seem to reflect this approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Neal Halfon,&nbsp;founding director of the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities,&nbsp;makes the argument for early investments that set life trajectories on a&nbsp;positive path and&nbsp;prevent problems.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-gWU7F wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Halfon &#8211; preventing problems by investing early (2:11)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90193947?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-halfon-preventing-problems-by-investing-early\/\" target=\"_blank\">Halfon &#8211; preventing problems by investing early &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making the case<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What wins you over to a cause? For most of us, it helps if the messages are not too long, are clear and appeal to our hearts as well as our minds.&nbsp; In order to take action, it is particularly helpful when complicated issues are simplified&nbsp;and&nbsp;include practical suggestions about&nbsp;&#8220;what&nbsp;I can&nbsp;do&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is an organization that advocates for&nbsp;First Nations children and their families so that they can have culturally based and equitable opportunities.&nbsp;Executive Director Cindy Blackstock&nbsp;shares some startling facts about inequality for First Nations children and ways that people who work with young children can support equitable practices. The First Nations Caring Society website highlights \u201cwhat you can do\u201d with practical \u201cways to make a difference\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-Z1T6d6P wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Blackstock \u2013 leap or shuffle (2:10)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/365604139?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-blackstock-leap-or-shuffle\/\" target=\"_blank\">Blackstock \u2013 leap or shuffle &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-1xaBfE wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Blackstock \u2013 supporting equity (1:28)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/365604253?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-blackstock-supporting-equity\/\" target=\"_blank\">Blackstock \u2013 supporting equity &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-explore-Z27Oux9 wp-block-lazyblock-explore\"><div class=\"explore context-container\">\n   <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/fncaringsociety.com\/what-you-can-do\" class=\"tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">EXPLORE<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">First Nations Caring Society<\/span>\n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-reflect-ZtFbwz wp-block-lazyblock-reflect\"><div class=\"reflect\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How does Cindy Blackstock&#8217;s message &#8220;appeal to our hearts as well as to our minds&#8221;?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which of the &#8220;ways to make a difference&#8221; can you implement?<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Communicating the case for investing in early childhood education is critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Video is a tool that is often used for advocacy. The following video, produced by the Atkinson Centre at the University of Toronto, was created to encourage public and&nbsp;policy-maker support for early child development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail-Z1R7klj wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-thumbnail\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"video-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/files\/2022\/07\/362091983.jpg\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span><span class=\"tap-description\">Time for Preschool (2:19)<\/span>      \n         \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: auto;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\"><iframe frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/362091983?api=1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To close the gap between what we know about early child development and what we do often depends on how we communicate evidence and experiences. Listen to Dr. Charles Pascal, explain.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-1YOMnG wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Pascal &#8211; communication (1:05)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90197474?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-pascal-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\">Pascal &#8211; communication &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div>\n<p>In the next video, Dr. Dan Keating, a&nbsp;professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, recommends aiming for a higher comfort level with the biology of early child development.<\/p>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript-We1Rx wp-block-lazyblock-watch-expand-transcript\"><div class=\"watch-expand expand-container context-container\">\n   <div class=\"watch tap-to-expand tap-container\">\n      <div class=\"tap-icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"tap-content\">\n         <span class=\"tap-label\">VIEW<\/span>\n         <span class=\"tap-description\">Keating &#8211; biology (2:00)<\/span>\n        \n      <\/div>\n   <\/div>\n   <div class=\"output-content collapse\" style=\"height: 0px;\">\n      <div class=\"vimeo-container\">\n         <iframe webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/90194968?api=1\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div><br>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/transcript\/transcript-keating-biology\/\" target=\"_blank\">Keating &#8211; biology &#8211; Text Transcript<\/a><\/p>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Keating says, parents and professionals who work with young children are in the &#8220;business of building brains&#8221;. His message speaks to the idea you have seen throughout this resource &#8211; the importance of getting every child off to a good start. Keep this in mind as you go through the next page and learn about influencing social policy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Making the case for investing in early child development must stand on a solid rationale. How the rationale is communicated matters too.&nbsp;On this page we look at some practical ways to increase both awareness and action. Listen to the late Dr. Fraser Mustard,&nbsp;founder of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and co-founder of the Council [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-630","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8632,"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/630\/revisions\/8632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/secd-intro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}