Early Childhood Experience & the Developing Brain

Many journalists understand that children worldwide are profoundly affected by violence, poverty, war and displacement. Yet reporters are often under-prepared to report knowledgeably on policies and programs centered on early childhood development - cost-effective, evidence-based ways to disrupt intergenerational cycles of poverty and violence, level the playing field, and build peaceful societies. Despite dramatic developments in neuroscience, the importance of nurturing early brain development is not sufficiently reflected in the news agenda, and as a consequence is inadequately understood by the public or reflected in the priorities of global civil society.

To help journalists and news organizations around the world improve their reporting on early childhood experience and brain development, the Dart Center organized a reporting institute for 45 journalists from 26 countries March 9-12, 2017 at Columbia Journalism School in New York City. The institute was designed for reporters covering a wide range of issues, from local education and social policy to refugees, conflict and international public health. It focused on advancements in neuroscience and their implications for child development, concentrating especially on vulnerable children living in poverty and constantly changing, unstable environments. The institute also addressed national and international policy on health, education and related fields. Other topics included impacts of stress on early brain development, successful intervention models and the effects of technology.

Resources, including expert briefing materials and suggested readings. Full conference video is below, including:

1. “Three Things All Journalists Should Understand About Early Childhood Science, Practice, and Policy” 

2. ECD and Journalism What’s the Connection?

3. Building Better Brains 

4. The Neuroscience of Poverty, Adversity and Resilience 

5. The Pillars of Science Journalism

6. Model Intervention Showcase

7. Violence, Conflict and the Impact on Children

8. Advancing ECD Policy on the Global Stage

9. How Technology Affects Young Children

10. Data-Driven, Data-Informed: Telling High Impact Stories on ECD

11. Making Editors and News Consumers Care

12. Infancia Plena: A Case Study of Best Policy Practice in Ecuador

13. Return on Investment: The Case for Early Childhood Development 

14. Cultural Interpretations of ECD: A Global Tour of Assumptions