I love opening my mailbox and receiving the latest news from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child.
This morning's mail tells about the latest science that shows us how much the connections between early experiences, relationships and environment matter.
A lifelong effect in health, brain architecture and early learning is formed from the conditions and environments in which a young child finds itself.
We all know that poor nutrition, exposure to pollutants, family stress, racism, poverty and social marginalisation can all have disruptive effects on the brain and immune system as well as the metabolic and cardiovascular systems.
In turn, these conditions lead to inflammation in these systems, which lead to adult health problems like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, depression and dementia.
Acknowledgement of these facts in our beloved South African, is paramount. We have to take up the responsibility as ECD partners and educate all ECD centres and parents.
For more information please read:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/connecting-the-brain-to-the-rest-of-the-body-early-childhood-development-and-lifelong-health-are-deeply-intertwined/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=september_2020