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HarvardCenter @HarvardCenter
Joined June 2011
  • Tweets 2,129
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  • Followers 23,543
1,054 Photos and videos
Happy International Day of Play! 🌟 🎈 From infancy on, play is an important part of a child’s life. If you’re looking for simple games for children of all ages, check out our play-based handouts here: bit.ly/4h4kPFF #InternationalDayofPlay @UNICEF
Screen grabs of three play handouts: 6 Games to Play with Babies (6 months); 6 Games to Play with Toddlers (2-3 years); and 5 Games to Play with Toddlers (18 months).

ALT Screen grabs of three play handouts: 6 Games to Play with Babies (6 months); 6 Games to Play with Toddlers (2-3 years); and 5 Games to Play with Toddlers (18 months).
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Simple, everyday moments between a young child and a caring adult (like the eye contact and smiles in this video) are a key component of early childhood development! Learn more here: bit.ly/3Djjg8m This video was originally posted by justinemfulama on Instagram.
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A broad range of influences in a child's developmental environment—from air quality to access to safe, stable housing—affect developing biological systems, including the neural, immune, metabolic, and cardiovascular systems. Learn more: bit.ly/3P34k0h
Infant looking up at caregiver. Text: We may not remember our earliest years, but early experiences and exposures are built into our bodies.

ALT Infant looking up at caregiver. Text: We may not remember our earliest years, but early experiences and exposures are built into our bodies.

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Promoting stability during pregnancy and early childhood offers a vital opportunity to support development and lifelong health. Find practical strategies for increasing stability here: bit.ly/43wM4DQ
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đŸ„° Stable, interactive relationships with a broad range of caring adults help young children feel like they matter, which supports their lifelong health and well-being. Learn more: bit.ly/43bXRaX This video was originally posted by dayandwhit on Instagram.
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Influences from a child's developmental environment shape their developing biological systems, with implications for lifelong health and well-being. This includes everything from air quality to stable access to nutritious foods. Learn more here: bit.ly/3P34k0h
Caregiver holding and smiling at toddler. Text: The foundations of lifelong health and well-being are laid in the earliest years of life.

ALT Caregiver holding and smiling at toddler. Text: The foundations of lifelong health and well-being are laid in the earliest years of life.

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By designing and implementing policies that promote secure, consistent access to nutritious foods early in life, we can support children's physical and mental health—now and across the lifespan. Learn more: bit.ly/4cXBCeE
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Read a note from our Faculty Director, Dr. Stephanie Jones, in our new newsletter: bit.ly/4nDL3mM Dr. Jones reflects on what she’s learned since joining the Center and marks Mental Health Awareness Month by discussing the importance of mental health in early childhood.
Caregiver and young child smiling together. Text: "I've seen again and again how the everyday, back-and-forth moments between children and the adults who care for them lay the foundation for how children come to understand themselves, learn about and manage big feelings, and build relationships with others." - Stephanie Jones, PhD / Faculty Director, Center on the Developing Child

ALT Caregiver and young child smiling together. Text: "I've seen again and again how the everyday, back-and-forth moments between children and the adults who care for them lay the foundation for how children come to understand themselves, learn about and manage big feelings, and build relationships with others." - Stephanie Jones, PhD / Faculty Director, Center on the Developing Child
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During early childhood, the brain develops rapidly, and early experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain—laying the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. Learn more: bit.ly/4hFNFwI
Toddler and caregiver smiling. Text: More than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second in the first few years of life.

ALT Toddler and caregiver smiling. Text: More than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second in the first few years of life.
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Children learn about the world through serve and return interactions with caregivers—just like this! Learn more here: bit.ly/3Djjg8m This video was originally shared by kuuipodawn on TikTok.
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Policies and programs that support caregivers and minimize stressors—from paid family leave to housing subsidies—can play an important role in helping all our children to thrive. Learn more here: bit.ly/43bXRaX
Caregiver holding newborn. Text: Caregivers need to feel appreciated and supported so they can give their best to the children in their care.

ALT Caregiver holding newborn. Text: Caregivers need to feel appreciated and supported so they can give their best to the children in their care.
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Listen to the latest episode of The Brain Architects: bit.ly/4wjER7u In this episode, learn how stability across children’s developmental environments shapes their well-being and find strategies for promoting stability for young children and their caregivers.
Caregiver hugging young child. Text: Listen to a new episode of The Brain Architects. "Even when we experience unstable, challenging conditions early in life, the brain is so adaptable that we can step in and provide supports to children no matter where they are in their journey. It’s never too late to step in." - Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP / Chief Science Officer, Center on the Developing Child

ALT Caregiver hugging young child. Text: Listen to a new episode of The Brain Architects. "Even when we experience unstable, challenging conditions early in life, the brain is so adaptable that we can step in and provide supports to children no matter where they are in their journey. It’s never too late to step in." - Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP / Chief Science Officer, Center on the Developing Child
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When we work across sectors to ensure children are surrounded by positive experiences and opportunities, such as safe, stable housing and responsive relationships with caring adults, we can support their life-long mental health. #earlychildhood #mentalhealth
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Young children thrive in predictable settings with consistently available, supportive caregivers. However, caregivers cannot do it alone—policies and programs need to help create stable environments for young children and caregivers: bit.ly/4cXBCeE
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Childcare stability is associated with more secure attachment to the caregiver as well as improvements in language, literacy, and cognitive skills. This speaks to the importance of designing childcare policies and programs with stability in mind: bit.ly/3PbD432
Teacher and young child smiling at each other. Text: Stable relationships in childcare and school can serve as “safe havens” for children experiencing difficulties elsewhere in their lives.

ALT Teacher and young child smiling at each other. Text: Stable relationships in childcare and school can serve as “safe havens” for children experiencing difficulties elsewhere in their lives.
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Our Co-Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Tassy Warren, EdM, recently spoke at the State of the Child Summit, hosted by NC Child and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. Read more of what she said here: bit.ly/4vZg5cj
Child sleeping in caregiver's arms. Quote: "Being a caregiver and a parent is really hard, and there are so many ways in which the policies and the systems in this country make it even harder than it needs to be, and in very unequal ways. And I want to change that, and I know that you all do too." Tassy Warren, EdM / Co-Executive Director, Center on the Developing Child

ALT Child sleeping in caregiver's arms. Quote: "Being a caregiver and a parent is really hard, and there are so many ways in which the policies and the systems in this country make it even harder than it needs to be, and in very unequal ways. And I want to change that, and I know that you all do too." Tassy Warren, EdM / Co-Executive Director, Center on the Developing Child
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🏠 Policies and programs that promote housing stability – such as increasing access to safe, affordable housing – offer a tremendous opportunity to help children thrive. Learn more here: bit.ly/3PbD432
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đŸ€Ł Play is such an important part of early childhood development! Learn more and find playful activities for children of all ages here: bit.ly/4h4kPFF
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Children’s development is shaped by a range of influences from their developmental environment. By working across a broad array of sectors, we can help ensure every child grows up in a developmental environment where they have what they need to thrive: bit.ly/3UbHDdb
Smiling toddler and caregiver. Text: Strategies and solutions for improving outcomes for young children must extend beyond traditional early childhood systems. This includes sectors such as health care, employment, housing, and food assistance.

ALT Smiling toddler and caregiver. Text: Strategies and solutions for improving outcomes for young children must extend beyond traditional early childhood systems. This includes sectors such as health care, employment, housing, and food assistance.
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Fluctuations in family income are common—but when income is unpredictable, it can disrupt children’s environments. Income changes can contribute to housing instability & impact access to nutritious food, healthcare, and high-quality childcare. Learn more: bit.ly/4cXBCeE
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