Why 0-3?

At the Urban Child Institute, 0-3 is our priority.

With the many issues facing Memphis youth from birth to adolescence it may seem counterintuitive to concentrate so much effort on this short, early stage of life.

The fact is that during the first 3 years our brains are most wired to learn and are growing to 80 percent of their adult size.

In these years, children’s brains are twice as active as those of adults and they are soaking up the world around them, building vocabulary and learning skills and undergoing emotional and social development.

As Nobel Prize winner James Heckman has said: “Early experiences can translate into school readiness, academic success, and lifetime well-being. Success builds upon success. When more children in a community are ready to learn, communitywide levels of human and social capital rise.”

http://www.theurbanchildinstitute.org/why-0-3