Creating Great Connections
In most communities today, far too many children are struggling. Whether it’s with mental health challenges, school performance, emotional regulation, social skills, physical health, or feelings of worth, the reality is clear: many children are not doing well. The good news? We have the science and knowledge to change this. Entire communities can achieve breakthrough improvements for their children if more people understand that the most powerful levers of change occur in the first few months and years of a baby’s life.
That’s why we’ve developed Creating Great Connections, a grassroots public awareness initiative that makes it easy for anyone—no matter their role—to help build a communitywide understanding of infant and childhood brain development and the value Neuro-Nurturing.
Why This Matters—And Why It Can’t Wait
Brain research is clear: the first few years of life are the most crucial for building a strong brain, which is the foundation for lifelong well-being. During this time, one million neural connections form every second, wiring the pathways that shape how children learn, behave, view themselves and relate to others.
When children receive consistent, positive experiences, they develop strong executive function skills—the ability to focus, manage emotions, solve problems, plan, delay gratification, think critically, anticipate consequences, form healthy relationships and much more. These skills are essential for success in school, work, and life. The language processing part of the brain also develops long before children are learning to read. The foundational brain development before age three greatly impacts how easily they develop reading, math, and communication skills.
But here’s the urgent truth: When people in many roles in a community don’t understand how important this is, they’ll likely fail to support the environments and experiences that build strong brains during that most influential time. The results are far-reaching: