Five Resources for Early Childhood Development Research
Wilder Foundation has supported the health and well-being of children for more than 100 years. From programs that provide quality child care and parent education, to research that examines how children learn, to community partnerships that encourage the healthy development of babies, Wilder is committed to helping children reach their full potential.
A growing body of research helps inform how we can achieve that goal. We now know early childhood development begins before birth, and that kindergarten readiness is a strong indicator of a child’s success later in life. These findings can shape the ways families, communities, and organizations like Wilder support children at a young age. So how do we keep up with the latest in early childhood development? Wilder Research librarians have compiled the following resources that provide insights about how children learn and grow.
1. Child Care & Early Education Research Connections: New Research
Research Connections promotes high quality research in child care and early education and the use of that research in policy making. This website contains research and data resources for researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and others. Visit Child Care & Early Education Research Connections: New Research
2. Child Trends: Early Childhood Development
Child Trends researchers study young children from birth through early elementary school with a focus on understanding how the experiences children have across different settings promote optimal development and well-being. Work focuses on research, evaluation, and policy projects that address important issues for policymakers, practitioners, and families. Visit Child Trends: Early Childhood Development
3. Harvard Family Research Project: Early Childhood Education
HFRP is a national platform for forward-thinking perspectives on family and community engagement research, practices, policies, and strategies. Their work in family engagement focuses on developing frameworks and tools to promote involvement from early childhood through young adulthood in the home, in school, and in community settings. Visit Harvard Family Research Project: Early Childhood Education
4. Brookings Institute: Early Childhood Development
Early child development (ECD) refers to a combination of programs and policies aimed at improving the nutrition, health, cognitive and psycho-social development, education and social protection of young children. Brookings conducts research that aims to better understand how to successfully scale up and sustain effective ECD programs and policies in America and throughout the developing world. Visit Brookings Institute: Early Childhood Development
5. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development: Education and Learning
The Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development is produced by the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (CEECD) and the Strategic Knowledge Cluster on Early Child Development (SKC-ECD) in Canada. These organizations have built a network of international experts who gather, synthesize and comment on the most up-to-date scientific knowledge available on the development of young children from conception to age five. Visit Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development: Education and Learning
The Wilder Library provides information, resources and services to employees of the Wilder Foundation. Library staff conduct research on a wide variety of topics including housing and homelessness, education, health and mental health services, and aging.