Unlock early learning through a web of support at home, in school, and in the neighborhoods where children live

Young children are dependent on a web of support — parents, caregivers, community members — not only for their safety and health, but also for the daily, positive interaction that shapes their brain development and future ability to learn.

Early childhood, defined here as birth to age 8, is a key time in children’s lives. During this period, their brains are developing most rapidly, establishing a foundation for all future learning.[1] Especially during this period, what happens in school depends on what happens at home. Children with caregivers experiencing high levels of stress, often because of low incomes or uncertain employment, have poorer educational outcomes than their peers [2,3] meaning that learning disparities begin before a child even enters the classroom.

Research shows that developing the parenting skills of children’s caregivers positively impacts children’s brain development, educational outcomes, and health.[4, 5] Nonprofits like AÇEV work with parents in Turkey to develop healthy parenting skills, resulting in increased reading and math skills for their children.

Because childhood poverty and low levels of parental education are associated with poor early educational outcomes, providing parents with cash, job training, and assistance in pursuing education programs can support their children’s early learning.[6] The Bridge Project funds the well-being of children by providing low-income mothers in the United States with unconditional payments and community resources during pregnancy and the first several years of their child’s life.

Research also shows that an increase in parents’ education of 1 year reduces the probability that a child repeats a grade by up to 7% and lowers the likelihood that students drop out of high school.[7] CAP Tulsa’s two-generation approach illustrates how.

The most effective literacy programs and organizations engage children’s caregivers,[8] and happen wherever children are — in the classroom and outside of it.[9] Barbershop Books establishes reading spaces in local barbershops and collects children’s reading preferences so that caregivers and teachers can personalize reading time.

What follows are more detailed profiles of these four organizations. All are real-world examples of how nonprofits implement these best practices. For more resources on supporting children, see CHIP’s Early Childhood Toolkit, Early School Success Toolkit, and Two-Generation Lens Guide.