Children who are given high-quality education at an early age - starting at six weeks old and continuing through their first five years of life - are more likely to be employed full-time and have better relationships with their parents as adults, according to new results from a longitudinal study now entering its fifth decade.
More than 6, child development professionals and other researchers are expected to connect and exchange ideas at the conference. The study follows 96 children who have continuously participated in the Abecedarian Project , an early education program for at-risk infants and children that started in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in The National Institutes of Health funded the original study.
Ramey spearheaded the Abecedarian Project over the past 45 years and led the team that produced the new follow-up report. Both the control group and treatment group received health care, nutrition, and family support through social services; however, the treatment group also received five years of early care and education. According to Ramey, high-quality education all day for five days a week, and for 50 weeks a year, beginning at six weeks of age and continuing until the child starts kindergarten, makes a lifetime of difference.
The quality of natural teaching - via social interaction between the teacher and child - is highly important, especially in infancy, according to Ramey. This includes such things as the conversational aspect of language and the focus on interactive reading as enjoyable, rather than a chore. Sonnier-Netto also noted that individuals in the educational group are more likely to be employed full-time, with more assets, such as owning a car, a home, and having a savings account.
According to Ramey, the connection between the results is obvious. Ramey and his team have followed-up with 78 of the 96 participants so far, with more interviews and physical check-ups planned for most of the remaining participants.
