As research across neuroscience, developmental psychology, and economics demonstrates, early social - emotional, physical, and
cognitive skills beget later skill acquisition, setting the groundwork for success in school and the workplace.15 However, an analysis of nationally representative data shows that 65 percent of child care centers do not serve children age 1 or younger and that 44 percent do not serve children under age 3 at all.16 Consequently, child care centers only have the
capacity to serve 10 percent of all children under age 1 and 25 percent of all children under age 3.17 High - quality child care during this critical period can support children's physical,
cognitive, and social - emotional development.18 Attending a high - quality early childhood program such as preschool or Head Start is particularly
important for children in poverty or from other disadvantaged backgrounds and can help reduce the large income - based disparities in achievement and development.19
The emotional and physical health, social skills, and
cognitive - linguistic
capacities that emerge in the early years are all
important for success in school, the workplace, and in the larger community.
Computer - based training programs targeting attention focusing and control has proven to enhance efficiency of the brain attention system in young children as well as reasoning
capacities.14 It has also been shown that classroom curricula that emphasize regulation and executive functions skills, such as Tools of the Mind, 17 improves children's
cognitive control.18 But home environment is also
important.