Why A Child’s “Next 1,000 Days” Are Critically Important 

The National Institute for Early Education Research has contributed to a two-part research series published in The Lancet examining the critical developmental period for children aged two to five years old, known as "the next 1,000 days. " The research reveals that approximately 182 million children aged three and four in low- and middle-income nations lack access to nurturing care that supports healthy development. The studies demonstrate that high-quality early childhood care and education programs produce significant positive outcomes for children, while the failure to invest in these programs costs societies eight to nineteen times more than the initial investment would require.