On the first day of kindergarten, the child who is ready to learn is not necessarily the one who can count to 20 or name all the colors in the rainbow, rather it’s the child who can pay attention, take turns, get along with others and follow directions.
Responsive and attentive child-adult relationships with many back-and-forth interactions build a strong foundation in a child's brain. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child defines five easy steps to practice serve-and-return with babies.
This new 5-minute video explores development and use of core capabilities, known as executive function skills, beginning in early childhood.
This short video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University looks at the negative effects young children experience from neglect.