The well child Initiative

A society’s future is determined by the quality of children it raises. And in truth, it is far easier to raise strong children than to repair broken adults. From conception to age 3 is the most critical period in lifelong health, well-being, and productivity. This is because it is the period when the brain is most sensitive to environmental influences. Yet, according to statistics released by the United Nations Children’s Fund in 2017, over 43 percent of children under the age of 5 are at risk of not reaching their full developmental potential due to factors such as poverty, poor nutrition, and lack of access to basic services and early enriching experiences. In practical terms, this means that almost half of the people who could make the world a better place are being deprived of that opportunity from causes that are preventable and avoidable. In today’s article, we will lay the scientific foundation for why the first three years of life are the most important determinants of lifelong...