Open Letter
A Decade of Bringing Babies to Capitol Hill
Matthew Melmed reflects on the purpose and impact of Strolling Thunder leading up to the 10 year anniversary of the event.
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Empowering Early Childhood Development
Building a world where all babies can thrive.
Empowering Early Childhood Development
Building a world where all babies can thrive.
The first three years of life are the most important for lifelong mental health and well-being.
We support families, professionals and policymakers who shape the lives of young children.
Impact Stories
Discover real-world stories and learn about people who make a difference.
Our Focus
At ZERO TO THREE, we offer early childhood trainings and resources to address the most critical issues impacting babies and toddlers. Explore our fields of focus.
Making an Impact Together
Every child deserves a strong start in life. We work to foster healthy development from the very beginning.
Understanding child development is crucial to help caregivers mold babies and toddlers into the best versions of themselves. We support parents and caregivers through our projects and programs and early childhood development resources, including community care resources, research-based tips, and tools for effective parenting.
We provide early childhood resources and training programs that support professionals across early learning, health care, mental health services, family support programs and more. Our conferences and trainings, free webinars, and resources deepen understanding of childhood development and strengthen effective practices to help professionals better serve young children and families.
ZERO TO THREE advocates for policies that promote the well-being and development of babies and toddlers as well as their families. We engage in research and collaborate with policymakers and state legislators to influence legislation related to early childhood education, child welfare and child care solutions. We dedicate our efforts to ensure the needs of infants and toddlers are prioritized in public policy decisions.
We emphasize the importance of mental and emotional health in infancy and early childhood, highlighting the benefits of early childhood development. We provide resources and training for parents, caregivers and professionals on how to nurture emotional well-being in babies and toddlers. Through our programs and campaigns, we promote awareness of the critical impact of early experiences on mental health. We also develop guidelines and tools that you can use to support the mental and emotional needs of babies and toddlers.
Our programs, early childhood development resources and training programs empower communities. In addition to offering local resources, we facilitate training sessions for community organizations and professionals to enhance their capacity to support children and families effectively. By fostering community engagement and collaboration, we help create environments that nurture healthy childhood development.
"This is just what I needed to reestablish my motivation in moving forward with this work."
The Latest News and Featured Resources
Explore the latest news and updates in the field of early childhood development.
Open Letter
How the Attention Economy Impacts Young Children
Dr. Radesky explains how today's digital media is capturing and commercializing young children’s attention, underscoring the need for stronger parent, platform, and policy responses.
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Distillation
How Babies Learn From Watching and Doing
A new study reveals how infants use their own motor skills to make sense of what they see others do.
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Webinar
How Stress and Instability Affect Babies’ Brains — and What Protects Them
Learn why the earliest years matter so much for lifelong health and how supporting families helps protect babies’ development.
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Good Question
Building an Early Childhood Environment with Mental Health at the Core
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Distillation
Understanding Perinatal Suicide Risk: What Everyone Should Know
Early detection, compassionate support, and systemic improvements are essential in addressing perinatal suicide risk.
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Good Question
How does parenting across two homes affect babies?
Babies can thrive in two-home arrangements when parents work together to keep caregiving consistent, transitions gentle and relationships strong.
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Distillation
The Child Care Paradox: Families Pay More, Educators Earn Less
America’s child care system is collapsing . Families are paying more than they can afford, while the very educators who make care possible remain some of the lowest-paid workers in the country. The result? Families are squeezed, programs are closing, and children are caught in the middle.
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Resource
Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Hear from AANHPI early childhood leaders and learn how diversity-informed practice furthers the early childhood field.
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Distillation
What do mental health issues in young children look like?
Babies and toddlers can and do suffer from mental health problems caused by trauma, neglect, biological factors, or environmental situations.
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Resource
Problem Solvers: A Free Preschool STEM Curriculum
Children can learn about math, science and engineering through everyday play. Download our complete preschool and early STEM curriculum, activity guide and songs.
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Buzzwords Explained: Breaking Down Common Terms in the Early Childhood Field
In this series, ZERO TO THREE's subject matter experts tackle common terms and topics in the early childhood field.
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From birth to 3, a child’s brain produces more than 1 million neural connections each second.
Upcoming Events:
Check out our upcoming in-person and virtual events.
Virtual
June 24, 2026
Dad Talk: Strengthening Connections with Fathers and Families
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Virtual
July 15, 2026
What’s Protecting Babies Right Now? A Choose Your Path Virtual Member Experience
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Hilton Boston Park Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts
August 4, 2026
20th Annual Cross Sites Meeting
Join us in honoring 20 years of impact and reimagining what’s possible for babies and families.
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Virtual
August 12, 2026
Word Wonders: Turning Reading Science into Everyday Practice
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Virtual
September 16, 2026
Before We Gather: A Conversation to Start Now
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Your gift to ZERO TO THREE will help give children the best possible start in life.
Supporting a child in their first 1,000 days is a gift that can last a lifetime!
A Closer Look
Report
Beyond the Headlines: Expert Analysis on Early Childhood Research
Timely analysis, thoughtful commentary and expert perspectives on early childhood research and stories shaping the field today.
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Early Childhood Books and Best Sellers | ZERO TO THREE
Explore our vast range of evidence-based resources and educational books designed to strengthen your practice.
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Early Childhood Issue Areas
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Calling All Baby Champions
Whether you're a parent, caregiver, community leader or policymaker, you can support our efforts and do your part in giving infants and toddlers a strong start in life.
Sign up for our newsletter to access the latest resources, learn about upcoming events and more. Help advance our initiative by making a donation or becoming a member.
