Early Childhood Mental Health

According to the InBrief "Early Childhood Mental Health" (Center on the Developing Child, 2014a), young children must have strong mental health if they are to develop appropriately in other ways, including socially, academically, and in terms of resilience and life achievement. The adults in children's lives must be on the look-out for early warning signs and be able to identify potential causes, or factors that may be contributing to the child's mental state. These factors may be internal, environmental, or a combination of the two (p. 1).

The Inbrief adds that understanding how to foster mental health in early childhood can help parents, policymakers, early childhood educators, and care providers promote the kinds of environments and experiences that encourage attachment and school readiness in young children. This understanding can also help care providers intervene early to remediate difficulties so that the developmental process of young children can proceed smoothly and appropriately (Center on the Developing Child, 2014a, p. 1).

We know that thriving communities depend largely on the successful growth and development of the people who live in them. In order to lay the foundation for successful development, young children need to consistently be in supportive environments with caring, responsive adults. Another of the Center's reports (Center on the Developing Child, 2014b) tells us that it is important to recognize that the formation of neural connections and the circuitry of the developing brain are significantly affected, both positively and negatively, by the typical interactions that an infant has with his or her care providers from the moment the baby is born. Furthermore, "Early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health" (para. 1).

The Center's report (2014b) suggests that the analogy of building a house is helpful when thinking about the development of brain architecture in the early years. It notes, "Just as a weak foundation compromises the overall quality and strength of the house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood" (para. 1).