Kathleen Gallagher’s Ted Talk, “The Healthy Child: Assembly Required” takes a reflective look at how in order the nurturing of a healthy child does not only involve physical well-being but psychological well-being as well. Gallagher discusses the many benefits of raising a child in a healthy, nurturing environment with these benefits ranging from an expanded vocabulary in preschool to lower rates of heart disease as adults.

Gallagher goes on to explain that issues preventing children from being raised in nurturing environments are often systemic and challenging these issues needs to be tackled with an understanding that these issues are often systemic. Poverty, racial prejudice, and prejudice against LGBTQ+ individuals are examples of systemic problems that hinder healthy child development.

Examples are also provided of healthy non-physical care that parents who promote healthy environments instill in their households. A few of these examples include nurturing strong emotional bonds, promoting language use, and providing access to resources that help children learn both social skills and academic skills.

Overall, Gallaghers Ted Talk discusses how a healthy child is created through a sum of different forms of care provided in their households.

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