A policy brief issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers’ Graduate School of Education discusses the role of high-quality preschool programs in creating a stronger culture of health that improves children’s physical and mental health throughout their lives.
“Evidence is clear that preschool is an opportunity to foster a culture of health in which childhood poverty doesn’t lead to poor adult health,” said assistant research professor Allison Friedman-Krauss, lead author of the analysis.
The paper, “Early Childhood Education: Three Pathways to Better Health,” offers recommendations for preschool programs on providing health screenings and referrals; implementing early-learning programs that focus on health, nutrition, and exercise; offering nutrition supplementation; and supporting children’s social-emotional development.