Working Paper #6
Establishing a Level Foundation for Life: Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood
Sound mental health provides an essential foundation of stability that supports all other aspects of human development—from the formation of friendships and the ability to cope with adversity to the achievement of success in school, work, and community life. Similar to the way a wobbly table may not function well if the floor is uneven, the legs are not aligned, or the tabletop is not level, the destabilizing consequences of problems in mental health can be caused by many interdependent factors. Just as small “wobbles” in a table can become bigger and more difficult to fix over time, the effective management of mental health concerns in young children requires early identification of the causes and appropriate attention to their source, whether they reside in the environment, the child, or (most frequently) in both. This report from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child summarizes in clear language why understanding how emotional well-being can be strengthened or disrupted in early childhood can help policymakers promote the kinds of environments and experiences that prevent problems and remediate early difficulties so they do not destabilize the developmental process.
Suggested citation: National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2008/2012). Establishing a Level Foundation for Life: Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood: Working Paper 6. Updated Edition. http://www.developingchild.harvard.edu
Printed copies will be available to order through our online catalog of publications in early 2013.
More Working Papers
- #1: Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships >>
- #2: Children's Emotional Development Is Built into the Architecture of Their Brains >>
- #3: Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain >>
- #4: Early Exposure to Toxic Substances Damages Brain Architecture >>
- #5: The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture >>
- #7: Workforce Development, Welfare Reform, and Child Well-Being >>
- #8: Maternal Depression Can Undermine the Development of Young Children >>
- #9: Persistent Fear and Anxiety Can Affect Young Children’s Learning and Development >>
- #10: Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development >>
- #11: Building the Brain's "Air Traffic Control" System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function >>
- #12: The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain >>
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Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain
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Persistent Fear and Anxiety Can Affect Young Children’s Learning and Development
