In light of the significance
of early childhood experiences on adult health in later life, the social and economic benefits of such an intervention are substantial and of major public health significance.
At the same time, epigenetic effects of parenting are plausible given previously observed epigenetic effects from parenting to later outcomes through effects on methylation in animal models (Champagne et al., 2008; Trollope et al., 2011), and a growing body of research reporting epigenetic
effects of early childhood experience for humans (e.g., Essex et al., 2013; Beach et al., 2014).
As the discussion above notes, recognition of the
importance of early childhood experiences has gained prominence in recent years and consequently there is increasing interest in the potential for screening children at an early age for factors such as their meeting of developmental milestones, readiness to learn, or for emotional, social or conduct disorders, all of which GUS routinely includes.
It increased the parents» ability to understand and manage the complex and challenging behaviours of their children by enabling them to understand the origins of the behaviours and the unique difficulties that children with attachment difficulties can have as a
result of their early childhood experiences.
While the biological and psychological foundation for secure attachment exists in all of us, Diane says, it can be inaccessible to some of us
because of early childhood experiences, trauma, or attachment injuries.
As we increase our knowledge of the
importance of early childhood experiences, we strengthen the impetus to develop more responsive policies, programs and services to support all parents and foster a healthier integration of work and family life.
Some of our earliest childhood experiences with saving money, coin by coin, was with a piggy bank.