06/23/2026
Most people know that the first five years of a child's life are critical. But what most don’t know is that those early years are nothing short of magic. The brain develops at an astonishing rate, so much in fact, that nothing like it will ever occur again in that child’s life.
During early childhood, the brain is sensitive to everything happening around it. Stable, nurturing environments directly support healthy brain development.
When young children are exposed to prolonged stress, it affects their mood and behavior in the moment, and also changes how their brains develop, shaping their ability to pay attention, manage emotions, and learn.
Research found that among children ages three to five living in poverty and experiencing homelessness, more than half showed signs of disrupted development tied directly to the stress and instability in their lives.
But that gap is closeable with the right intervention at the right time. Our House’s Early Childhood Education program serves children from birth through age five. Through our federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start programs, we provide structured learning, developmental screenings, trauma-informed care, and the kind of deep family support that gives every child's brain what it needs during the years that matter most.
The magic of those early years belongs to every child, regardless of what is happening at home. At Our House, we are doing everything we can to protect it.
https://ourhousega.org/childcare/
