News and Insights
Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life
In this conversation on the Brain Architects podcast, the Center’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Lindsey Burghardt, talked with Jennifer B. Wallace, award-winning journalist, and founder of the Mattering Institute who has written extensively on the topic of mattering. The Center on the Developing Child recently collaborated with Jennifer on a new working paper: “Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life.”
Welcoming Our New Faculty Director
We are thrilled to share the news that Stephanie M. Jones, PhD, has been named the next Faculty Director at the Harvard Center on the Developing Child. Dr. Jones is the Gerald S. Lesser Professor of Early Childhood Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she is Director of the EASEL Lab and co-Director of the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative. An accomplished researcher, she brings a broad range of relevant experience and expertise to her new role at the Center. As a developmental psychologist trained in child development, prevention science, and social policy, her work is focused on building knowledge through rigorous research and translating that knowledge into equitable policy and systems change to improve conditions in the places where children live, grow, play, and learn.
Climate disasters can alter kids’ brains — before they’re even born
A new article from Grist highlights how exposure to climate-related disasters during pregnancy and early childhood can disrupt healthy brain development, with long-lasting effects on learning, behavior, and health.
Our Chief Science Officer, Lindsey Burghardt, MD, MPH, FAAP, was quoted in the piece, emphasizing that while this is a highly sensitive developmental period, it’s also a window of opportunity. With the right supports and policies in place, we can buffer the effects of climate stress and promote resilience in both children and those who care for them.
Featured Newsletter: October 2025
In this month’s newsletter, we are excited to share a new resource: Early Childhood Development, Adversity, and Resilience: A review for pediatric health care providers. This interactive, self-paced learning module offers an overview of key science concepts related to early childhood development.
You’ll also find a new Q&A from Camille Bennett, a childcare provider and advocate in Alabama and a member of the Council on Addressing Racism in the Early Years,
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