Children’s Learning and Development Benefits from High-Quality Early Care and Education: A Summary of the Evidence

Key Highlights

• Participating in early care and education (ECE)a helps children to develop skills that will benefit them in school and
  in life. Specifically, research from the United States shows that ECE can help children learn the foundational skills for reading, math, self-control, and positive relationships.
• Children benefit most when ECE is high-quality. High-quality ECE programs go beyond basic health and safety requirements to provide warm, responsive relationships with educators, stimulating and developmentally appropriate curricula, and ongoing training for educators. These features of ECE enhance children’s cognitive and social-emotional development.
• All young children can benefit from high-quality ECE, but it can be especially helpful for children from families
  experiencing low household income, children with disabilities served in inclusive classrooms, and dual language learners.
• The benefits of high-quality ECE for the child often last into kindergarten, and some studies show lasting effects into middle school and high school. The quality of later schooling that a child experiences can either build upon or counteract these benefits. Even though evidence for long-term effects of ECE on child development is mixed, some studies show that participating in high-quality ECE yields long-term advantages for individuals and for society, including higher educational attainment, better adult health, and less involvement in crime.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Care (2023). Children’s Learning and Development Benefits from High-Quality Early Care and Education: A Summary of the Evidence.