Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington

Why Is This Important?

This Community Snapshot is designed to offer important background information about the Town of Southington for the purposes of our community plan. This information is not meant to have any specific actions associated with these community snapshot indicators. Rather, it is meant as baseline information to inform the reader about the community. Specific actions are listed in conjunction with the indicators under the Health and Education results. In addition, the ECCS is committed to working with other organziations and service providers in the community to ensure the best communicatoon practices go forth.

Why Is This Important?

Good prenatal care supports healthy birth weights and reduces pre-term births, resulting in less health issues for babies. Adequate prenatal care is important to the health of both mothers and their babies. It has a positive effect on birth weight, full-term delivery, and the overall health of babies at birth and beyond. “Regular prenatal care helps you and your health provider monitor how your pregnancy is going. It also helps spot any potential health problems before they become serious. Some pregnant women may experience complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. But with regular and quality prenatal care, you’ll be better able to manage any health issues that may come up.” (March of Dimes).

The combination of healthy eating and physical activity are essential to a child’s overall health and development. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “healthy eating and regular physical activity can prevent many chronic conditions.” The CDC also notes that “unfortunately, few Americans make healthy food choices on a regular basis and many do not get enough physical activity to receive health benefits.”

In addition, research has shown that children who are physically active have higher academic achievements, lower BMI and less disease. Long-term effects of childhood obesity are well-documented, including increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. Illness, often caused and spread by improper or lack of hand-washing, can result in school absences.

Why Is This Important?

Expanding access to high quality early childhood education is among the smartest investments that we can make. Research has shown that the early years in a child’s life—when the human brain is forming—represent a critically important window of opportunity to develop a child’s full potential and shape key academic, social, and cognitive skills that determine a child’s success in school and in life. Participation in high-quality early learning programs—like Head Start, public and private pre-K, and childcare—will provide children from all backgrounds with a strong start and a foundation for school success. These programs also generate a significant return on investment for society; numerous economic studies have documented a rate of return of $7 or more on each dollar invested through a reduced need for spending on other services, such as remedial education, grade repetition, and special education, as well as increased productivity and earnings for these children as adults. (WhiteHouse.gov)

Why is Early Childhood Education Important? (www.earlychildhoodnyc.org)

• Far too many children enter school not prepared.
• When unprepared children begin school behind, they tend to fall further and further behind.
• Children who are at risk of not doing well in school gain significant benefits from quality childcare.
• All children need to enter school ready and able to succeed.

Cognitively:

• Improves school performance
• Raises math and language abilities
• Sharpens thinking/attention skills
• Reduces special education placement
• Lowers school drop out rates

Socially and emotionally:

• Improves and strengthen interactions with peers
• Decreases problem behaviors
• Encourages more exploratory behavior
• Helps adjustment to the demands of formal schooling

Long-term positive results and cost savings of Early Childhood Education:

• Increases lifelong earning potential
• Achieves better academic outcomes
• Lowers rates of teen pregnancy and incarceration
• Improves recruitment and retention of parents who work