Articles

Early childhood programs have become Exhibit A in conventional accounts of how to eradicate inequality and poverty. Advocates for early childhood programs, most notably Head Start, routinely argue that such programs help children enter school ready to learn, increasing their likelihood of academic success and reducing the chances that they remain poor in adulthood.

Play is essential for a child’s development and for learning life skills. While the information in this publication is specifically for parents, the information applies to other adults including grandparents, extended family members and child care providers that have opportunities to affect the play of children.