Statement on Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis

We know from the science of early childhood development that infancy and toddlerhood are times of intense intellectual engagement. A child’s first years set the stage for all that follows. During this time the brain undergoes its most dramatic development, and children acquire the ability to think, speak, learn, and reason. Future development in key domains – social, emotional, and cognitive – is based on the experiences and relationships formed during these critical years.

Here are the ZERO TO THREE’s policy recommendations to support the healthy development of infants and toddlers who have been neglected and abused.