1. The Early Years Opportunity Building a Strong Foundation

2. NOTE TO PRESENTER: This presentation is set up as a TEMPLATE for you to use. Please feel free to edit the presentation to meet the needs of your audience. All of the information in the Speakers Notes section of the slides is there for additional information, and to guide your presentation. If you require additional resources please see www.2000days.ca. www.2000days.ca

3. What is the First 2000 Days Network? The First 2000 Days Network is a collective response of community members, organizations, professionals with a passion for making progress on our vision: All children from conception to six are supported by family and community in order to reach their optimal development.

4. What are your hopes and dreams for our children? … for our society? “Child development is a foundation for community development and economic development, as capable children become the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society… All aspects of human capital, from work force skills to cooperative and lawful behavior, build on capacities that are developed during childhood, beginning at birth.” The Science of Early Childhood Development, National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, Harvard University

5. Why 2000 Days? Lifetime affects on … Learning Behaviour Health

6. How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development

7. We know that… Brains aren’t just born, they are built over time.

8. Experiences Build Brain Architecture Source: Neurevolution.net

9. Rethinking the Brain, Families and Work Institute, Rima Shore, 1997. New Born Early Childhood Later Childhood Experiences get wired into the brain Synaptic Density

10. We know that … a strong foundation supports all future development.

11. The brain is organized into specialized functional areas Source: American Psychological Association, Research in Brain Function and Learning

12. Sensitive periods for neural circuits Source: Urban Child Institute.org

13. We know that… serve and return interactions are the foundation for healthy brain development.

14. Babies brain “on” serve and return!

15. We know that… stress impacts brain development.

16. Positive stress is part of healthy development.

17. We know that… toxic stress can derail healthy development.

18. We also know… a loving, consistent caregiver can buffer a child from the negative impacts of stress.

19. We know that… the brain’s “air-traffic control system” needs to be geared up as soon as possible.

20. Executive function and self-regulation are the biological foundation for learning and social behavior.

21. While lags in developing the “air traffic control system” is associated with long term struggles… these these skills can be taught and improved, even into early adulthood!

22. We know that… children can’t do this on their own… …but together we can!

23. How can we act to ensure all children reach their developmental potential? What role can you play … …in your home? …in your community? …in your workplace?

24. This presentation was created through the support and collaboration of: