Title: Towards an Integrated System of Early Child Development Programs
1Towards an Integrated System of Early Child
Development Programs
2004 Annual Meeting European Society for Social
Pediatrics
Montreal, Quebec
By J. Fraser Mustard Founding President, CIAR
September 23, 2004
203-072
CIAR
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
303-073
CIAR Programs
Population Health Human Development Economic
Growth
404-033
Early Child Development and Human Development
Unacceptable gap between what we know and what we
do
Why?
504-152
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
604-142
What Do We Know?
The Biology of Brain Development
Conditions of early life affect the
differentiation and function of billions of
neurons in the brain. This early experience sets
up the pathways (connections) among the different
centres in the brain.
703-080
Experience-Based Brain Development in the early
years of life sets neurological and biological
pathways that affect health and well-being
throughout life
Health
Learning
Behaviour
804-145
The brain is a pathway by which experiences get
under the skin to affect health, learning and
behaviour.
904-143
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
1003-131
NEUROSCIENCE
1103-078
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
1200-078
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.
1301-023
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
1403-089
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.
1504-157
Epigenetics Gene Expression
An intermediate process that imprints dynamic
environmental experiences on the fixed genome
resulting, in stable alterations in phenotype.
I. Weaver et al., Nature Neuroscience, June 2004.
1604-144
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
1704-012
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
1801-003
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.
1903-063
HEALTH
2004-007
The Brain and Health
From the time of the ancient Greeks to the 20th
century, it was accepted that the mind can affect
illness. The new thrust of the biosciences and
the new treatments for disease have recently
caused us to have less interest in the mind-body
interaction and disease.
Esther Sternberg (NIH)
2104-006
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
2200-076
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
2300-069
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)
2401-010
"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
2598-032
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
2604-015
Socio-Economic Gradient and Mortality Men UK
140
120
SMR
100
SMR Standardized Mortality Ratios
80
60
I
V
IV
III
II
Social Class
2703-065
BEHAVIOUR
2801-008
"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
2901-009
"The origin of these behavior problems can be
traced back to fetal development and infancy.
High quality care-giving support during the
first three years reduces the seriousness
of behavior problems."
. - Developmental Health and the
Tremblay, R
Wealth of Nations, 1999
3002-008
Maltreatment at an early age can
have enduring negative effects on
a child's brain development and
function.
Martin Teicher
Scientific American, 2002
3102-011
"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
3202-041
Substance Abuse and Childhood Abuse
Odds Ratios for Drug
and Alcohol Use
Exposure to
Drugs
Alcohol
Child Abuse
0 1.0 1.0
1 2.7 2.0
2 2.9 4.0
3 3.6 4.9
4 4.7 7.4
Scale 0 none
4 intense
3303-064
LEARNING
3401-040
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
3502-061
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
3600-085
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)
3702-001
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
3804-146
Test of Language Development (TOLD) at Age 9
Correlation between vocabulary growth at Age 3
and TOLD at Age 9.
0.74
3904-147
Life Expectancy Literacy
80
78
76
Life Expectancy at Birth (yrs)
74
72
70
60
40
100
20
0
80
Percent at Literacy Levels 1 and 2
OECD
4099-097
Winnipeg
Education and Death
All Cause Mortality (Deaths / 1000)
Education Level
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5
least
most
1996
8.83
7.53
7.26
6.88
5.99
4101-012
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
4204-161
VULNERABLE CHILDREN
4303-018
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
4401-053
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
4504-148
Improving Gradients for Document Literacy Scores
410
Canada
390
370
Sweden
350
330
Mean scores
310
Today
290
Future
270
250
230
0
5
10
15
20
Parents Education (years)
4604-149
Evidence That You Can Raise the Learning Bar
Observational Studies Randomized
Trials National Longitudinal Studies
4799-092
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
4800-046
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
4902-036
Intervention Studies
Grantham-McGregor Abecedarian Ypsilanti Osborn
and Milbank Bergmann France AKDN Madrassa
Program Other (World Bank Report)
Compatible with biological and animal studies
5003-005
WISC Verbal Scores Age 8 Low Birth Weight
Children in ECD Centres (Ages 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.
5104-153
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
5204-004
Critical Factors in Early Child Development (ECD)
Experience-Based Brain Development Healthy
Environment Sound Nutrition Clean
Water Prevention of Illness Avoidance of
Toxic Substances
(alcohol, drugs, lead, smoking, etc.)
5304-150
Social Factors Influencing ECD
Parenting and work Role of women in
society Weakening of intergenerational
support Income disparity Population migration
and pluralism
5499-004
ECD and Experience-Based Brain Development
parent-oriented
child-oriented
1
2
3
4
5
6
- 0
age
Components of Early Childhood Development and
Parenting Centres
Universal available, accessible, affordable and
optional
Parental and non-parental care
Parent- and child-oriented
Quality early child development environments
Responsive relationships and parent involvement
5504-154
Parental and Non-Parental Care
Problem-based play Parents should be involved in
ECD centres Parents learn by doing in the
centres Labour market policies facilitate parent
involvement in ECD centres
5604-155
Pre- and Post-Natal Supports
Public health, family physicians and
developmental paediatricians Advice in respect
to nutrition, vaccination and hazards Community
resources and services Service programs for
children linked to ECD centres
5704-156
Staffing ECD Centres
1 staff for 3 infants and toddlers (parent
involvement) aged 0 to 3 1 staff plus parents
for 6-8 children aged 3 to 6
5804-034
Barriers to Implementing ECDP Programs
- Economics
- Lack of understanding (public and professional)
- The state as a nanny
- No commitment to equality
- 5. Dumb men, stupid choices
5904-151
Public Policy ECD-P Centres
Universal and accessible Centres should be
community-based and linked to primary
schools Childrens Services linked to
centres Well-educated and trained
staff Parenting and labour market
policies Outcome accountability
6003-116
OUTCOME MEASURES
6103-085
Outcome Measures 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
6202-065
Percentage of Children in Kindergarten Scoring in
Bottom 10 by District - Vancouver
34.5
15
27.5
8.5
21.5
EDI, February 2000
6302-064
Percentage Grade 4 Students Below Numeracy
Expectations
0-11
12-22
23-34
35-46
47-58
Source Ministry of Education
6404-158
Canadian Government
Child Tax Benefit National Child
Benefit Maternity and Parental Leave for one
year Funding to provinces and territories for
ECD - QUAD
6504-159
Quebec
Minister Responsible for Children Support for
integrated community ECD programs Increased
support for ECD staff Parent involvement
required
6604-160
Other Provinces and Territories
Ministers Responsible for Children Programs not
integrated All but Quebec do not adequately
support non-parental care
6700-068
Integrated - ECD
Social
Equality
Education
Health
Capital
Economic
Growth
Human Development
6802-018
From Early Child Development
To
Human Development
World Bank Report, 2002
6901-039
www.founders.net
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70References
References
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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. - Vulnerable Children. Editor J. Douglas Willms,
University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, 2002. - Readiness to Learn at School. Magdalena Janus and
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