The First Five Years

The number of food insecure kids in America has grown significantly since COVID-19. But by investing in early childhood we can provide nutrition for the brain and for the body. (Photo by iStock/SDI Productions)

Black lives matter. Yet from the moment children of color enter the world, the disparity between races is evident. New research from George Mason University found that black newborn babies in the United States are three times more likely than white babies to die when cared for by white doctors. Likewise, they’re more likely to survive childbirth if cared for by Black physicians. (Photo by iStock/Mongkolchon Akesin)

When choosing child care, it is just as important to look outside the building as it is to look inside. We offer some times on playground safety to help you make the best and safest choice for your child. (Photo credit: iStock/sturti)

According to a new Danish study, adverse childhood experiences can significantly shorten a person's life expectancy. The good news is by investing in programs for young children, we can save those lives. (Photo by iStock/cokada)

Why do babies stare? It's because they are scientists who are researching and learning from faces. (Photo by iStock/AJ_Watt)

What would you do if your child contracted COVID-19? You’d probably call your doctor, quarantine your family, and do everything you could to keep them well and prevent the virus from spreading. ​But what if you lived pay check to pay check? You would have to make some very difficult choices. (Photo: iStock/ti-ja)

What happens when a child exposes others to COVID-19 at child care? Even if the child care provider does everything right, it could still force them out of business. We must save child care. (Phot credit iStock/Yobro10).

Imagine you’re a baby. You love being with mom and dad but there is so much more to learn. You’re excited about child care! But what if child care isn’t there? (Photo by iStock/ruizluquepaz)  

If you’ve been crazily working from home with your pre-schooler, and are now ready to send them back to child care, you may not want to hear this: you’re not done. The University of Arizona says parental involvement in your little one’s child care experience, is a major indicator of whether that child arrives at Kindergarten ready to learn. 

An ever growing number of early childhood experts are urging Congress to invest at least $50 billion in the next, and perhaps final, COVID-19 emergency funding bill. The Child Care is Essential Act could save child care and get America back to work. 

Over 60% of Americans have one or more adverse childhood experience or ACE, which are linked to chronic mental and physical health problems, substance misuse, and underemployment in adulthood. We can change this by investing in our children. Learn how.            

COVID-19 has disrupted all of our routines. That includes young children for whom this interruption could negatively impact their behavior. So how do you know if a change you see is just growing pains or something more? Listen now and find out. 

“Benevolent sexism” can start early and persist throughout life. Talking to your kids about perpetuating stereotypes early can break this cycle. Listen now to learn more.  

 COVID-19 is making many parents scared to take their children places. But this aversion is having unintended and life threatening implications – few immunizations. Listen now to find out more.

There’s a lot more to sleep than meets the eye. Ethnicity and socioeconomic factors play into the quality and amount of sleep that young children get. Listen now to learn more.

Do you see your child? Truly see them? Being present and observing our children with real curiosity helps parents to better know who our kids really are.

The thought of returning to work after giving birth can trigger feelings of depression. After all, who wants to get back to the grind when you’ve got a newborn at home who wants nothing more than your love and attention? Mounting research continues to find connections between maternal depressive symptoms and the length of maternity leave.

The Kirwan Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education has made bold recommendations to improve Maryland’s public education system. Maryland Family Network knows that investing in young children offers a significant return on investment. Baltimore’s own Sage Policy Group agrees. Listen now to learn more.

Over the last twenty years the opioid epidemic has exploded across America. From 1999 to 2013, the number of women in the U.S. with an opioid use disorder while giving birth has quadrupled. How we address this crisis affects everyone.

What’s the deal with hiccups? According to a new study, it just might be babies practicing their breathing. Listen now to learn more.

Bonding with your newborn doesn’t always come naturally to new moms. For some it is instantaneous, while for others the process takes time. This has nothing to do with your ability to parent. Instead, it has to do with the seismic transition that women go through when becoming mothers. And, it’s quite normal.

Parenting feels like a state of constant fatigue--  over-exhausted, over-worked, and over-stretched in both your personal and parenting obligations. It is hard to schedule time for self-care when more than half of all married couples with children have two parents working full time in America. But self-care is vitally important, for both parent and child.

Parenting can burn more than 50,000 calories per month. Who knew having a baby would also provide you with your very own personal trainer? Learn more.

It takes a village to install a child’s car seat appropriately. There’s a lot more to car seats than meets the eye, and knowing what to look for and how to use them as instructed can literally save lives. Here are some important things to keep in mind.

New research from Vanderbilt University shows very young children may be captivated by screens, but they are not able to learn from them. When it comes to learning, that time is better spent talking to your child.

Research from Johns Hopkins University finds that babies may be able to count...sort of. Even though they can’t yet say words like one, two, or three, the babies studied seemed to understand that counting indicates quantity.

Moms, you are enough. Don’t let the internet tell you any different. Listen now to learn more.

A panel of scientists recently released new nutritional guidelines for children. According to these guidelines, for the first five years children should avoid sugary drinks and consume primarily milk and water. Listen now and drink up the knowledge!

The U.S. has the largest population of incarcerated people in the whole world. Accordingly, there are approximately five million children in the U.S. who have a parent in jail, prison, or on parole. When a person is imprisoned the impact is vast; it is felt by their family, their community, and, sadly, their children.