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The Seventh Core Concept of Development

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Introduction

Early childhood development (ECD) is considered a critical period that helps lay a firm

foundation for emotional resilience, cognitive abilities, lifelong health, and social competence.

There is adequate research showing that an individual’s experiences during their first years have

long-lasting and profound impacts on their abilities to survive and succeed in their adult life.

Early childhood development impacts not only an individual but also society as a whole.

Children will become tomorrow’s responsible citizens, leaders, and workforce (National

Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2007). Therefore, every parent is responsible for

ensuring that children receive the stimulation and support they require during their initial years to

foster a sustainable and productive society. Failure to lay a good foundation during a child’s first

years will lead to more significant issues, eventually resulting in societal costs regarding social

services, education, and healthcare.

The Seventh Concept: Creating the right conditions for early childhood development is more

effective and less costly than addressing problems later in life

Out of the seven core development concepts, I feel that the seventh one, creating the

right conditions for early childhood development, is more effective and less costly than

addressing problems later in life, which makes the best case. The benefits of early childhood

development include lifelong impact, cost-effectiveness, and prevention over intervention. Early

intervention lays a foundation for relationships, work, and school success. Once developmental

issues are addressed early in advance, problems can be prevented from escalating, which can be

more expensive and challenging to fix later in life. The article advises that effective and efficient

preventative measures in childhood are essential rather than remediating developmental

challenges in adulthood. The final concept is the most compelling as it advocates for the essence
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of high-quality education during the early years of life. This core concept emphasizes the

exceptional value of early intervention, claiming that early intervention during the first years of

life benefits an individual and society.

The critical argument present in this concept is based on the idea that the brain’s ability to

reorganize and adapt peaks during an individual’s early years. As children age, the brain

develops rapidly, laying a firm foundation for future health, behavior, and learning. Early

childhood experiences, whether negative or positive, significantly affect the brain’s wiring

((National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2007). The early years of life are

characterized by a period of maximum plasticity. During this period, children respond highly to

interventions that support their social, emotional, and cognitive development.

The concept further advocates addressing developmental problems during a child’s first

years rather than trying to remedy the challenges that emerge later in adulthood. Over, an

individual’s brain elasticity decreases, making it even more challenging to change maladaptive

circuits that were not well-formed during early childhood. For example, children who receive

inadequate protection from toxic stress, emotional support, or cognitive stimulation are more

likely to experience health, social, and academic challenges in their adulthood. On the other

hand, children exposed to nurturing environments and high-quality education during their initial

years are highly likely to secure stable employment, succeed in school, and create better

communities.

Research Findings

Their compelling and vast academic research supports the seventh concept that creating

the right conditions for early childhood development is more effective and less costly than
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addressing problems later in life. The child is forming new circuits and connections in the early

childhood years, and the brain seems sensitive, particularly to early interventions and the

environment. However, this malleability decreases as they age, meaning the earlier the

intervention, the greater the societal and individual benefits.

The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2007) has documented the

benefits of early intervention through its longitudinal studies, demonstrating that investments in

quality early childhood programs can produce great returns for individuals and communities.

These substantial returns can be increased lifetime earnings, higher education attainment, and

reduced dependence on social services. For every coin invested in early childhood education,

there are substantial savings in areas such as incarceration costs, unemployment benefits, and

special education. Additionally, children who receive positive early interventions will likely

become great citizens and crucial members of society. On the contrary, addressing

developmental issues can be resource-intensive and challenging. Remedial programs aimed at

correct adults, such as addiction treatment or workforce retraining, are costly and produce fewer

results than the advantages of early childhood education.

Policy and Practice Recommendations

There are several practice and policy recommendations generated from the concept of

adopting early intervention as opposed to later remediation. Investing in quality early childhood

programs is necessary, especially for vulnerable children. The program should offer social,

emotional, and educational support for well-rounded development. Family support, early

literacy, and quality child care are all critical elements of productive early intervention strategies.

Children with enriched environments during their early years have a high likelihood of

successfully navigating adulthood (Piirto, 2021). The second policy and practice
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recommendation is conducting a cost-benefit analysis. Investing in early childhood education

almost guarantees a substantial return on investment. Childhood programs reduce the need for

incarceration, unemployment benefits, and special education while increasing tax revenue and

productivity from a productive workforce. Economists have demonstrated that early childhood

development yields the highest returns among other social investments.

Another policy recommendation is universal access to early interventions. The

government should consider expanding and extending its funding to early childhood

development programs to ensure that all children benefit from positive early intervention. The

program can also be supported by establishing and enforcing severe quality standards for early

childhood development programs, such as facilities, curriculum, and teacher qualifications.

Government subsidies would also aid in providing financial assistance, particularly to minority

and disadvantaged communities, to help them access positive early childhood education. Lastly,

research and assessment would go a long way in fostering positive early intervention through

evaluation, research funding, and evidence-based practices. Research funding will help

researchers have a better understanding of the benefits of early interventions as well as the

diverse needs of children. By implementing these policies, the government is well-positioned to

design and establish the right early childhood programs to improve outcomes and inform policy

decisions.

Recommendation

I highly recommend delivering quality early childhood programs, especially for children

from minority and disadvantaged communities. Research shows that children who are raised in

unstable home environments or poverty have a higher possibility of delayed developmental

milestones. Early intervention would curb this issue and the associated risks by providing
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children with nurturing and stable environments to easily thrive (Hoemann & Barrett, 2019).

Supporting disadvantages benefits an individual, the community, and the nation. As vulnerable

children are given the proper early intervention, they will likely avoid criminal behavior, have

excellent academic performance, and be law-abiding citizens. This, in turn, relieves the social

services burden and improves societal well-being.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the seventh concept, Creating the right conditions for early childhood

development is more effective and less costly than addressing problems later in life, offers a

compelling case for investing in high-quality early intervention. Investing in children during

their first years in life has numerous benefits, such as laying a solid foundation for lifelong

success, producing individuals that positively impact society, and reducing the costly

interventions for remediation in adulthood. Prioritizing high-quality intervention, especially for

minority and disadvantaged communities, is a moral imperative and wise economic investment

that will yield dividends for future generations.

References

Hoemann, K., Xu, F., & Barrett, L. F. (2019). Emotion words, emotion concepts, and emotional

development in children: A constructionist hypothesis. Developmental psychology, 55(9),

1830.

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2007). The Science of Early Childhood

Development: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We

Piirto, J. (2021). Talented children and adults: Their development and education. Routledge.