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Social geography of developmental health in the early years

Clyde Hertzman1

  • 1Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Healthcare Quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)
|October 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood development is crucial for lifelong well-being. Foundational brain development from birth to school age establishes key skills and influences overall developmental health.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Neuroscience
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Early years (0-school age) are critical for foundational brain and biological development.
  • Key skills like attachment, impulse control, executive function, motor skills, language, and quantitative understanding are established during this period.
  • These early developments are embedded in brain architecture and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical importance of early childhood development for lifelong outcomes.
  • To define developmental health as the integration of physical, social-emotional, and language-cognitive domains.
  • To underscore developmental health as a central concern for child well-being.

Main Methods:

  • This article is a review and synthesis of existing research on early childhood development.
  • It draws upon established developmental and neuroscience literature.
  • Key concepts are defined and integrated to form the basis of 'developmental health'.

Main Results:

  • Early childhood development significantly impacts brain architecture and function.
  • Developmental health, encompassing physical, social-emotional, and language-cognitive domains, is established in early years.
  • Poor developmental health has long-term consequences across multiple life domains.

Conclusions:

  • The foundational period from birth to school age is paramount for establishing developmental health.
  • Developmental health is a critical determinant of well-being throughout the life course.
  • Interventions and focus on early childhood development are essential for preventing long-term negative health and social outcomes.

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