Early Child Development

1
Early Child Development Socio-Economic
Consideration
DECS, DH DFC Forum
Adelaide, Australia
By J. Fraser Mustard Founding President, CIAR
March 21, 2005
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03-072
CIAR
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
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04-131
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04-132
One cannot emphasize too strongly the importance
of those first years for the course that a child
will follow throughout his entire life.
Erasmus (1529, p. 309)
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04-033
Early Child Development and Human Development
Unacceptable gap between what we know and what we
do
Why?
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04-152
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
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03-080
Experience-Based Brain Development in the early
years of life sets neurological and biological
pathways that affect
Health
Learning
Behaviour
8
97-044
The Mismatch Between Opportunity and Investment
Brain's "Malleability"
Spending on Health,
Education and Welfare
Age
0
3
10
70
Medicare
Headstart
Welfare
Social Security
Public Education
Research
Medicaid
9
04-143
Why the Gap?
Lack of understanding Social/Cultural Profession
al silos Failure to integrate knowledge about
ECD and human development Cost of quality ECD
programs
10
01-021
Consilience
Linking knowledge
from the natural sciences
and social sciences
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03-131
NEUROSCIENCE
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03-078
Experience and Brain Development
Stimuli in early life switch on genetic pathways
that differentiate neuron function sensitive
periods
Stimuli affect the formation of
the connections (synapses)
among the billions of neurons
From studies in humans, monkeys and rats
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Sound Vision Smell
Touch Proprioception Taste
Neal Halfon
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00-078
Brain Pathway and Plasticity in Early Years
1. Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis
- regulation of cortisol
memory, diabetes, heart disease,
cognition, behaviour
2. Autonomic nervous system
blood pressure, respiration
3. Sensing pathways (vision, sound, touch etc.)
cognition, language, literacy etc.
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04-044
Stress Two Key Pathways
Autonomic Nervous System - Epinephrine
1.
Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Gland (HPA) Pathway
2.
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04-038
Cycle of Stress
Cortex
Amygdala
Locus Coeruleus
Brain Stem
Glucocortocoids (Cortisol)
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Norepinephrine
Adrenal Gland
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Paraventricular Nucleus
Hypothalamus
Vasopressin
CRH
Cortisol
Pituitary Gland
ACTH
Adrenal Gland
Blood Vessel
ACTH
Cortisol
Kidney
Stress Pathway
Cortisol
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03-002
Emotional Stimulus
Amygdala
Hippocampus
-

-

Hypothalamus PVN
Cortisol
Cortisol
CRF
PIT
ACTH
Adrenal Cortex
LeDoux, Synaptic Self
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03-110
Interaction of the Brain and Immune System
CRF
Hypothalamus
Cortisol
Locus Ceruleus
CRF
Adrenal Gland
ACTH
Pituitary Gland
Vagus
Cortisol
Cytokines
Sympathetic Nervous system
Immune Cells
Nerve
Immune Organs
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04-042
SENSING PATHWAYS
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03-079
Vision - Hubel Wiesel
Eye cataracts at birth prevent
development of vision neurons
in the occipital cortex
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Two Neurons
RECIPIENT NEURON
Axon
Synapse
SIGNAL-SENDING NEURON
Dendrite
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01-003
Human Brain Development Synapse Formation
Language
Sensing
Pathways
Higher
(vision, hearing)
Cognitive Function
9
0
1
4
8
12
16
3
6
-3
-6
Months
Years
Conception
AGE
C. Nelson, in From Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2000.
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02-066
The Fear Response
Visual Thalamus
Visual Cortex
Amygdala
Scientific American
The Hidden Mind, 2002, Volume 12, Number 1
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03-012
Synaptic Density
At Birth
6 Years Old
14 Years Old
Rethinking the Brain, Families and Work
Institute, Rima Shore, 1997.
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How Genes Know When to Strengthen a Synapse
Sci. Am. Feb. 2005.
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01-023
Genes and Brain Stimulation
in the dance of life, genes and environment
are absolutely inextricable partners. On the one
hand, genes supply the rough blueprint for the
brain. Then stimulation from the environment,
whether its light impinging on the retina or a
mothers voice on the auditory nerve, turns genes
on and off, fine-tuning those brain structures
both before and after birth.
Hyman, S., States of Mind, New York John
Wiley, 1999
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S. Suomi
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Non Human Primate Development
Poor Mothering First 6 Months of Life
Increased anxiety and depression as adults
Excessive alcohol consumption
Impulse aggression and violent behaviour
Females tend to be poor mothers
Highest risk genetically predisposed to high
cortisol levels during development
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00-054
Poorly Nurtured Rhesus Monkey Infants
Biological Changes
High cortisol levels to mild stress
Chronic deficits in serotonin metabolism
Disrupted circadian rhythms for cortisol
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00-055
Development of High Genetic Risk
Rhesus Monkey
Infants with Nurturant Mother
Precocious exploratory patterns
Females become very nurturant mothers
Rise to top of social groups - dominance hierarchy
Robust immune responsiveness
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03-089
Serotonin Gene, Experience, and Depression Age 26
Depression Risk
.70
SS
S Short Allele L Long Allele
.50
SL
LL
.30
No Abuse
Moderate Abuse
Severe Abuse
Early Childhood
A. Caspi, Science, 18 July 2003, Vol 301.
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Epigenetics and Brain Plasticity
Experience and methylation of DNA Imprints
environmental experiences on the fixed
genome Maternal behaviour affects DNA
methylation Can be transmitted to offspring
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Summary Brain Plasticity
Sensing pathways set in early life
Vision Hearing Touch
HPA Pathway (stress) set in early life
(HPA-Immune Pathway)
Hippocampus - Memory
Plasticity sustained throughout life Affected by
HPA Pathway
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Socio-Economic Gradients in Health, Learning and
Behaviour
Can be steep or shallow (no threshold) At the
lowest SES position, many still do well in
respect to health, education and learning Not
simply a poverty question Is a social
issue Cohesion trust
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04-015
Socio-Economic Gradient and Mortality Men UK
140
120
SMR
100
SMR Standardized Mortality Ratios
80
60
I
V
IV
III
II
Social Class
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01-001
Quantitative Literacy Scores for Youth, Aged 16
to 25
International Adult Literacy Study, 1994
1.0
Germany
Level 3
0.5
Sweden
Netherlands
0.0
Belgium
Effect Size
Level 2
Canada
-0.5
USA
Ireland
-1.0
Great Britain
Level 1
6
8
10
12
16
14
Parents Education (Years of Schooling)
38
01-067
Socioeconomic Gradients for Behaviour Problems
Children Aged 2 to 6
National Longitudinal Study of Children and
Youth, 1998
20
18
16
Rest of
14
Rest of Canada
Canada
- Urban
12
- Rural
Prevalence of Childhood Vulnerability
10
8
6
BC - Rural
BC
- Urban
4

-2
-1
0
1
2
Socioeconomic Status
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03-063
HEALTH
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04-006
Swedish Longitudinal Study ECD and Adult Health
Number of Adverse ECD Circumstances
1
2
4
0
3
Adult Health
Odds - Ratios
General Physical
1
1.39
1.54
2.08
2.66
1
1.56
1.53
2.91
7.76
Circulatory
Mental
1
1.78
2.05
3.76
10.27
Economic, family size, broken family and family
dissention
Lundberg, Soc. Sci. Med, Vol. 36, No. 8, 1993
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00-076
Socio-Economic Factors Life Cycle and Health
In Utero - Barker et al
Early Years - Power and Hertzman
Adult Life - Marmot et al
Biological embedding in the early years
influences health risks in adult life
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Health Problems Related to Early Life
and Brain Development
Coronary Heart Disease Non-insulin Dependent
Diabetes Obesity Blood Pressure Aging and
Memory Loss Mental Health (depression)
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01-010
"Follow up through life of successive
samples of birth has pointed to the
crucial influence of early life on
subsequent mental and physical health
and development."
Acheson, Donald -
Independent Inquiry into
,1998
Inequalities in Health
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03-065
BEHAVIOUR
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01-008
"Longitudinal studies show most seriously
antisocial adolescents and adults who had
behavior problems during childhood showed as
antisocial behavior when they enter the school
systems."
Tremblay, R
. - Developmental Health and the
Wealth of Nations, 1999
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Physical Aggression Trajectories
4
Chronic (4)
High (28)
Physical Aggression
2
Moderate (53)
Low (14)
0
6
10
11
12
13
14
15
Age
Nagin Tremblay. 1999.
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High School Diploma
80
75.8
62.5
60

40
27.5
20
3.3
0
Never
Low
High
Chronic
Level of Aggression
Tremblay
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02-008
Maltreatment at an early age can
have enduring negative effects on
a child's brain development and
function.
Martin Teicher
Scientific American, 2002
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02-011
"The aftermath can appear as
depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or
post-traumatic stress - or as aggression,
impulsiveness, delinquency, hyperactivity
or substance abuse."
Martin Teicher
Scientific American, 2002
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01-012
Early Learning and Criminal Behaviour
Significant correlation with registered
criminality (teenage) appeared for language
development at 6, 18, and 24 months
Journal of Abnormal
Stattin, H. et al -
102 369, 1993
Psychology
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LITERACY
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02-001
Literacy Early Vocabulary Growth
1200
High SES
Middle SES
Cumulative Vocabulary
600
Low SES
0
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
Age - Months
B. Hart T. Risley, Meaningful Differences in
Everyday Experiences of Young American Children,
1995
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04-146
Test of Language Development (TOLD) at Age 9
Correlation between vocabulary growth at Age 3
and TOLD at Age 9.
0.74
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01-040
Levels of Literacy A Reflection of ECD
Level 1
indicates persons with very poor skills.
Level 2
people can deal with material that is simple
Level 3
is considered a suitable minimum for coping with
the demands of everyday life
Level 4 and 5
describe people who demonstrate command of
higher-order processing skills
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02-061
Document Literacy
1994 1998, Ages 16 to 55
Level 1 and 2 Level 4 and 5

Sweden
23
34
Canada
42
23
Australia
43
17
United States
48
18
Chile
85
3
56
00-085
Literacy Gradients
Mean scores
350
Document
Literacy Scores
330
310
290
International
Sweden
Mean
270
250
Netherlands
230
Canada
210
190
Chile
170
0
5
10
15
20
Parents Education (years)
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04-168
Percentage of Population Ages 17-25 at Level 4
(Prose)
2.5
Sweden
2.0
1.5
Canada
1.0
Finland
0.5
USA
0
1970
1995
1985
Year
O.E.C.D.
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VULNERABLE CHILDREN
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Vulnerable Children Aged 4 to 6 NLSCY 1998
40
30
Ontario
Prevalence of Vulnerable Children
20
Rest of Canada
10

0
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
Socioeconomic Status
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01-053
Odds - Ratio for Children's (0-5)
Cognitive and Behaviour Problems
Behaviour
Cognitive
Parenting (vs good)
Authoritarian
1.53
2.01
Permissive
1.23
1.80
Inadequate
1.85
2.14
Parents Read to Child
0.92
0.96
Local Support
0.93
1.00
61
99-092
Romanian Orphanage Study
Adopted Canadian Homes
lt 4 months
8 to 53 months
IQ low
IQ normal
poor attachment
good attachment
serious behaviour
few behaviour
problems
problems
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00-046
Evening Cortisol Levels Increase with
Months of Orphanage Rearing
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
Log10 Salivary Cortisol
-0.8
linear trendline
-1
-1.2
0
10
20
30
40
50
Months of Orphanage Rearing
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05-047


Children in Poorer Quality Childcare Show Rises
in Cortisol Over the Day
2.0
1.0
Quality of Childcare
0.0
-1.0
-0.4
-0.2
0.4

0.0
0.2
Rise in Cortisol
Dettling (2000).
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05-018
Non Parental Care and Language
Quality of child care relates to language
outcomes at 15, 24, and 36 months
NICH 2000
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02-036
Intervention Studies
Grantham-McGregor
Abecedarian
Ypsilanti
Osborn and Milbank
Bergmann - France
Other (World Bank Report)
Compatible with biological and animal studies
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03-005
WISC Verbal Scores Age 8 Low Birth Weight
Children in ECD Centres (Age 1 to 3)
Low Birth Weight
16
All
14
Very Low
12
Low
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
Intention to
350 Days or
400 Days or
Treat
Less in Centre
More in Centre
Hill, Brooks-Gunn, Waldfogel. Dev. Psychol. 2003
July.
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04-153
Abecedarian Study Reading
Effect Size
Primary Grades
Preschool
Preschool Primary Grades
1.2
0.8
0.4
0
Age 8
Age 12
Age 15
Age 21
Age at Testing
68
05-002
Early Child Development and Parenting Centres
69
05-029
Early Child Development and Parenting Centres
Offer from conception to school entry Provide
support for parents Learn parenting by
doing Provide non-parental care Link to
Childrens Services as needed
70
05-025
Public Policy ECD-P Centres - I
Universal, accessible and voluntary Centres
should be community-based Childrens Services
linked to centres
71
05-026
Public Policy ECD-P Centres - II
Well-educated and trained staff Parenting and
labour market policies Outcome
accountability Integrate existing program
components home visiting, non-parental care,
family resource programs, kindergarten, etc.
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03-116
OUTCOME MEASURES
73
03-085
Early Development Instrument (EDI)
Physical health and well-being
Social knowledge and competence

Emotional health/maturity
Language and cognitive development
Communication skills and general
knowledge
74
04-099
Quality of Human Capital
Tinbergen Fogel Sen Heckman
75
02-056
Policies to Foster Human Capital
"We cannot afford to postpone investing in
children until they become adults nor can we
wait until they reach school - a time when it
may be too late to intervene."
Heckman, J., 2001
(Nobel Prize Economics, 2000)
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03-074
Rates of Return to Human Development Investment
Across all Ages
8
6
Pre-school Programs
Return Per Invested
School
4
R
Job Training
2
Pre- School
School
Post School
0
6
18
Age
Pedro Carneiro, James Heckman, Human Capital
Policy, 2003
77
01-064
Economic Inequality and Literacy Inequality
36
USA
34
UKM
IRL
32
30
DEU
CAN
Gini coefficient
28
NLD
NOR
26
Liberal Market Economy
24
SWE
Co-ordinated Market
22
Economy
FIN
DNK
20
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
Literacy inequality
78
01-050
The principle of free education for
school-age children is already entrenched
throughout the rich world there would be
nothing incongruous about extending it
further down the age range.
The Economist, pg 16, July 18, 1998
79
00-068
Integrated - ECD
Social
Equality
Education
Health
Capital
Economic
Growth
Human Development
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01-039
www.founders.net
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References
References

• From Early Child Development to Human
  Development. Editor Mary Eming Young, World
  Bank, Washington, 2000.
• Synaptic Self How Our Brains Become Who We Are.
  Joseph LeDoux, Viking Penguin, New York, 2003.
• The End of Stress As We Know It. Bruce McEwen,
  Joseph Henry Press, Washington, 2002.
• Developmental Health and the Wealth of Nations.
  Editors Daniel P. Keating, Clyde Hertzman, The
  Guilford Press, New York, 1999.
• From Neurons to Neighborhoods. The Science of
  Early Child Development. Editors Jack P.
  Shonkoff and Deborah A. Phillips, National
  Academy Press, Washington, 2000.
• Early Years Study, Final Report Reversing the
  Real Brain Drain. Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain and
  J. Fraser Mustard, Publications Ontario,
  Toronto,1999.

82
References

• 7. Vulnerable Children. Editor J. Douglas
  Willms, University of Alberta Press, Edmonton,
  2002.
• 8. Readiness to Learn at School. Magdalena
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• 9. Why are some people healthy and others not?
  Editors Robert G. Evans et al, Aldine De
  Gruyter, New York, 1994.
• The Early Years Study Three Years Later. Hon.
  Margaret Norrie McCain and J. Fraser Mustard, The
  Founders Network, 2002.
• Choice for parents, the best start for children
  a ten year strategy for childcare. Dept. for
  Education and Skills, HM Treasury.
  www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. 2004.