As an early childhood professional, I focus on advocating for healthy outcomes (developmentally, medically, educationally) for pregnant women and very young children.  In other words, I am doing my part at producing children who will become mentally competent, emotionally stable and cognitively stimulating adults.  First of all, a pregnant woman’s state of mind can affect a baby’s emotional attachment beyond infancy (Music, 2011).  Less stress and trauma during pregnancy provides for a healthy neonatal experience, delivery, and baby.  Therefore, it is ideal to provide pregnant females (all races, all socio-economic levels, and all ages) with access to as many resources as possible at building a strong pregnancy (essentially a strong baby, child, and eventually an adult).  Secondly, the first three years of a human’s life is the most formative years.  According to Halfon, Shulman, & Hochstein (2001), in the first three years of life, the number of synaptic connections doubles.  Experiences shape this development.  At the age of three, the process of synaptic elimination begins.  Clearly, any person involved in the life of an infant/toddler, including early childhood educators, is shaping “the future” of this child.  Lastly, building strong babies contribute to strengthening our communities.  How do we produce a stronger community?  Investing in our babies.  How do we invest?  The first step is knowing.  Second step is understanding.  Third step is taking action by providing better quality care for our pregnant women, infants, and toddlers to increase high school graduation rates and decrease the amount of money and time spent on restoring issues such as paying for remedial education and services (Committee for Economic Development, 2012).  In summary, our focus should be on our future.  Our future is our children.  Let’s start while we can make the most different.  Let’s start when they are in production, in early childhood. 

References

Committee for Economic Development (2012).  Unfinished Business:  Continued Investment in
     Care and Early Education is Critical to Business and America's Future.  Committee for Economic
     Development. 
Halfon, N., Shulman, E., Hochstein, M., & California Univ., L.C. (2001).  Brain Development in
     Early Childhood.  Building Community Systems for Young Children. 
Music, G. (2011).  Nurturing natures:  Attachment and children's emotionally, sociocultural and
     brain development.  New York, NY:  Psychology Press.