The early years of our children’s lives are irreplaceable. Just as building a house depends on strong foundations, so do our children for early development. The strength of these childhood foundations can both lift and limit their growth.
Building Blocks
In infancy, these childhood foundations start in our homes. Research shows that our children’s experiences and environment during their first 1000 days significantly impact their development into their future.
For all of us, early childhood is a period of incredible transformation and extreme vulnerability. Learning begins at birth. Most brain development occurs during the early years; a scaffold for ongoing learning, social, emotional, cognitive well-being, and health.
As parents, carers and members of the community we all play a crucial role. The environments and experiences we give children are the foundation of their childhood. These foundations support the building blocks of our children’s development.
Early childhood foundations can shape a child’s physical, cognitive, emotional and social well-being for life. Solid and stable foundations allow a steady structure, boosting our children’s future prospects.
Laying The Groundwork
Home is where we start from. In the early years, it’s in the home environment where infants and toddlers begin to experience life.
All our children deserve the following foundations:
- Physical care. This includes adequate nutrition, shelter, warmth, sleep and rest, and adequate clothing.
- Positive well-being. Such as feeling safe and secure, and access to medical care.
- Love and attention. Including feeling loved and valued unconditionally, receiving praise, and having positive relationships with their caregivers. These elements are linked with positive well-being (e.g., positive self-esteem).
- Access for play and growth. For example, access to toys (and time and space to play), access to outdoor spaces (to experience, learn and grow), opportunities to socialise with other children, and access to education.
These foundations are a blueprint to give our children the best start in life. Clothing that fits, a home to rest in that keeps them warm, and a full tummy supports their physical needs. A happy home where they are safe and can get medical support when needed. Caregivers to form a secure bond and positive relationship with. Safe spaces to play, interact with other children, imagine and learn. Foundations to build on, grow and thrive.
A Roof Overhead
As parents and carers, we want to give our children the best possible start in life. But life is not fair, and being a parent is not always easy! There is no such thing as the perfect parent. The truth is we can only do the best we can. Today, life is full of anxiety, stress and worry for many families in our community. For as much hope and joy as we have for children, life can have other plans.
It can be very challenging to shelter and protect the childhood foundations. Sometimes, it’s nearly impossible to do this alone. Serious illness, disability, mental health issues, domestic abuse, bereavement and poverty can strike any family. All too often, once-happy families can be struck twice or more. When it rains it pours, and what was a leak can turn into a flood. If parents struggle to cope, the ground beneath the foundations can be swept away.
From The Ground Up
In the 1970s, Margaret Harrison volunteered as a ‘social visitor’ to children in care. During this time, she realised that many of these children would not have ended up in care had they and their families received timely support in their homes when things first started to go wrong. The idea for Home-Start was born.
Parents and carers are the bedrock of the family. When life comes down on us like a tonne of bricks, our plans for our families can get buried and hopes for our children crushed. Too many parents feel alone and ashamed to reach out for help. Supporting parents supports children. When other caregivers ask for our help we must listen.
Empowering families early in a crisis prevents problems from becoming beyond repair. With support from their community, families can be strengthened. It stops the ground from being pulled out from underneath. It keeps childhood foundations stable. All our children can develop positively and thrive.
Only As Strong As It’s Foundations
We must protect childhood. A childhood is only as good as its foundations. Our volunteers and supporters stand alongside local parents struggling to give their children the start in life they deserve.
Home-Start Bedfordshire is your local charity, offering a toolbox of free services to families with young children. The early years of a child’s life are irreplaceable. We must all act now because childhood can’t wait.
“I first got in contact with home-start after my son had finished chemotherapy and was starting immunotherapy. Chemotherapy had wiped his immune system so we were housebound most the time and very limited to where we could go.
I had also had a baby half way through my son’s treatment so being stuck at home with a newborn and a three year old, who wanted my time was becoming difficult and extremely lonely.
Abi used to come round once a week for two hours and would entertain my son while I could sort the baby out (who was very demanding and never napped for longer than 30 minutes). Abi didn’t just help out with the kids, she was a great support to me emotionally, having a cuppa and a chat with Abi was all the therapy I needed sometimes most days she would lift my spirits and I would feel a whole lot happier by the time she left. I will always be grateful for the time Abi took to come and see each week, and she never let us down.” Names have been changed for confidentiality.