...a focus on early childhood
Small Matters
A newsletter of The Peter Williams Trust Fund
November 1998
Brain development research highlights the need for early intervention for disadvantaged children.
By Patricia Nickell
Head of Department Child Studies
Victoria University
Trustee Peter Williams Trust Fund
Separately, early childhood educators, behavioural scientists and neuroscientists have reached the same conclusion - experiences in the early years have a significant impact on shaping the developing structure of the brain. With the help of new technologies, including powerful brain scans, neuroscientists have been able to form a much clearer picture of how the brain works which, in turn, have allowed new insights into early development.
Finally, after years of advocating and lobbying about the importance of the early years for later development, we have scientific proof to support claims that: The experience a child has in the early years will contribute significantly to the structure of the brain and its capacities. It is now clear from research that while nature lays down a complex system of brain circuity, it is the environment in which the child develops that has an enormous impact on how the circuits of the brain are laid. It is the quality, consistency and amount of appropriate mental stimulation that will determine, to a large extend, the way a child’s brain forms connections and how the connections will function. In essence, appropriate early childhood experiences help the developing brain reach towards its full potential. The effect on cognitive and emotional development is lifelong.
BABY TALK
Total births 1997 251,842
Births per woman 1.8
Conceptions 500,000
Births 251,800
Still births 2,000
Miscarriages 150,000
Abortions 95,000
Median age of
1997 - mothers 29 yrs
1997 - fathers 32 yrs
1977 - mothers 26 yrs
1977 - fathers 29 yrs
Courtesy - HeraldSun
Stress can affect brain function. Positive nurturing experiences actually affect the biological systems that adapt to stress. Recent research demonstrates that infants with strong emotional bonds to their caregivers show consistently lower levels of stress hormone cortisol - a stress hormone that affects metabolism, the immune system and the brain. On the other hand, excessively high levels of cortisol alter the brain by making it vulnerable to processes that destroy the neurons responsible for learning and memory.
Research findings also suggest that while securely attached children are more adaptive and able to cope with the ordinary stresses of daily life, and are more prepared to cope with the adverse effects of later stress and trauma in their lives, children who experience extreme stress in their earliest years are more likely to be a greater risk for developing a variety of behavioural, cognitive and emotional difficulties.
Although learning continues throughout the life cycle, there are certain critical periods of ‘windows of opportunity’ during which the brain is more receptive to particular types of learning.
For early childhood educators there findings are not surprising. Over the past two decades numerous longitudinal studies have demonstrated the impact of high quality childhood and family support programs on the lives of disadvantaged children, their families and the community at large.
Savings in welfare costs, prison reform and educational remediation clearly demonstrate that investing in children between birth and eight, not only makes good sense in terms of improving the quality of life for children for disadvantaged families, it is also cost effective.
The findings from brain development research have profound implications for policy makers - rather than trying to remediate the problems after they have occurred, adequate resources must be allocated to preventative programs, which support young children and their families.
Secretariat:
159 Bluff Road, Black Rock - Ph: (03) 9598 2134 Fax: (03) 9521 9535
Trustees Visit Crossroads
At the invitation of the staff of Crossroads, some of the Trustees and trusts supporters visited the "Crossplay"” programs on site at Ascot Vale, Sunshine and Broadmeadows. Sir Rupert Hamer, the Chairman of the Trust, Mrs Dorothy Williams, the founder of the Trust were joined by Professor Peter and Mrs Boss. Professor Boss was the inaugural Professor of Social Work at Monash University and is currently the President of For CHILDREN. The Rev Denis Oakley, a long term friend of the Williams and who has been involved in child welfare work for many years also attended.
The staff of the centres presented their work and the visitors were very impressed by the quality of the centres and the professional commitment of the staff.
With the help of the Trust the Paul Newman Foundation provided equipment for a children’s playground at Ascot Vale.
From the Crossroads Children’s Worker Project
Dear Trustees,
Since the amalgamation early this year, the children’s worker role has become an integral part of the three family housing services. Initial assessments, advocacy, and referral are offered to all new families, and Crossplay to suitable families.
Our contract for consultation with Travancore is very helpful, and a number of interesting child case studies have been discussed at depth. This consultation has been opened also to our youth hostel staff, as many of their young people show the results of early trauma.
I arranged a seminar on Personal Safety and Protective Behaviours, presented by the Children’s Protection Society. This was attended by staff from our crisis services, as well as the three family services. We purchased a set of workbooks for staff to access with appropriate children.
During the holidays all program held a recreation day, with a variety of activities - Werribee Zoo, a barbecue in the local park, a family fun day with a mobile farm. Ascot Vale is preparing for another parent education series, to be held in November.
Crossroads Family Services have been approached by Deer Park Women’s Prison to offer some services top women whose children are living with them in the prison. In discussion it became clear that they were looking for something like our Crossplay model, and so there is currently an application in for funding, to allow the program to be offered within the prison.
The new up-to-date Crossroads brochure was launched at a 20 year anniversary celebration of the original Crossroads Network, which also officially marked the beginning of the new Network.
Thank you again for your generosity in assisting to fund this project.
Coral Schilling -Children’s Project Worker
A WILL AND A WAY...
A WILL is one WAY that we can ensure that support that we offer to the things we are interested in over our lifetime continued forever. We don’t have to look very far to appreciate that there are many benefits that come to us through the generous gifts of those who have died. Our Universities and Medical Research Centres, our Art Galleries and Music Academies, our Welfare Agencies and schools all benefit from bequests from those who had an interest in these areas while they were alive.
The Trustees of the Peter Williams Trust Fund are committed to improving knowledge and supporting services (especially services which are geared to strengthening families) because they believe that the first years are critical to positive life outcomes for children. "We are very determined to ensure that children in these early years are given high quality care and services that are appropriate to their educational and emotional development and that the parental role is always seen as central and seminal in the rearing of children," explained Dorothy Williams, co-founder of the Trust with her husband, Dr Alan Williams. Dr Williams was for many years the Director of Pathology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne and a great worker for children, serving on many children’s organisations over the course of his working life.
If you are interested in the development of awareness regarding the important issues of early childhood and you support the concept of supporting innovation programs in early childhood you may like to join us by making a Bequest to the Peter Williams Trust. This will insure your current interest and support in this vital area of a child’s development continues forever.
An Endowment Fund in your name or the name of a loved one are alternatives you might like to consider.
If you are interested in further information you or your solicitor is invited to call the Secretary of the Trust, Lesley Oakley on 9598 2134 who will make arrangements for you to meet the Trustees if that is your wish. Your WILL could be very important in providing a WAY of ensuring that quality programs for children in this most critical time of their lives receive top priority.
Funding Discriminates - Say Early Childhood Educators
Early Childhood Educators in Victoria claim that some pre-school children can suffer a double disadvantage because of present government funding arrangements.
It has been found that children from disadvantaged families are less likely to experience, within the family, the sorts of social and cognitive activities important to their development. Yet it is these same children whose parents have the most difficulty in affording the $120-$150 fee per term that is now required since the government changed to per capita funding of kindergartens. Many of these parents have decided that the increase fees are a big enough de-incentive to sent their child to kindergarten.
Joy Williams, Uniting Church Early Childhood Consultant and President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Early Childhood Association said, "Many parents were opting for grandparent and other forms of low cost care which can have serious implications for these children." She explained. "This situation can leave children unprepared for the skills needed to confidently enter school where it could take them many years to catch up, if they ever do. It is very short sighted government policy that will have serious implications for many children in the future." she said. Her view is supported by Patricia Nickell, Head of Child Studies at the Victoria University who explained that longitudinal studies conducted in the USA and elsewhere had shown that in monetary terms every $1.00 spent on early childhood education saves $4.00 later on.
"These costs relate particularly to remedial education and the juvenile justice system which carry the burden of our failure when early childhood services have been inadequate or unavailable," said Ms Nickell.
Children denied social and educational services in those critical years are likely to experience restricted life outcomes, and all because government chose to manage their funding for these early childhood services with a bottom line mentality and a top of the line inflexibility.
The government needs to urgently review its funding policies in early childhood services if these is to be equity in access to services and the quality of our early childhood programs is to be maintained.