Website: Zero to Three

The website that I chose was Zero to Three. It can be found at http://www.zerotothree.org

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development. Their mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. They were founded in 1977 by top experts in child development, health and mental health. They are an organization that plays a critical leadership role in promoting understanding around key issues affecting young children and their families, including child care, infant mental health, early language and literacy development, early intervention and the impact of culture on early childhood development. They envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential.

Zero to Three works together to provide support in all domains of development and work together to promote overall health and well-being in all families and cultures. They do this through research, collaboration, and experience.

I chose the article, Putting Infants and Toddlers on the Path to School Readiness as my current issue. Here is a small selection that I chose to share from this article in regard to what a wise investment it is to support early development.

                At the same time that science reveals the importance of development in the earliest years; program evaluation research is able to highlight effective strategies to improve the lives of at-risk children and their families. Strong relationships can help buffer children from the toxic stress that can undermine healthy brain development. Proven approaches—some beginning during the important prenatal period—can help diminish the gaps and promote stronger social-emotional foundations.