If you’ve ever had this question before, you’re not the only one. A group of researchers at Harvard are currently researching how environments affect children’s learning skills and development.
It has already been well researched and found that small children who grow and learn in formal and high-quality preschools develop better language, math, and literacy skills. As well as stronger emotional and social connections. But what about the other environments that children grow up and develop in?
This research is being led by Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, two developmental psychologists, who aim to conduct a study of 5,000 children. These children are 3 to 4 years old, and this study can possibly follow them into adult-hood!
“Lesaux and Jones aim to update the science around child care by examining the links between children’s development and the characteristics of the educational and care settings where they spend their formative years…”
This research is extremely important because not all families have the resources to send their children to private or high-quality schools, and there’s a variety of environments that children grow up in. Some parents send their children to after school programs, relatives’ houses, and many other places. This study is promising and will hopefully produce telling results!
If you want to read more about this study, read here!
Kaitlyn Vitucci, Research Assistant UConn KIDS