Visit Early Experiences for information about how all children (from birth to age five) can receive high-quality early education and care from their families and their communities. Early Experiences: Children - Development

Did You Know?

95% of the brain’s capacity is developed by age three, yet only 1.3% of Ohio’s budget is dedicated to young children. 

A child develops the ability to reason by the age of five. 

A youngster’s brain works on a "use it or lose it" principle, and synapses not used or stimulated early will be discarded. 

Nearly one-third of children entering kindergarten are 1.5 years behind their peers. 

Children in high-quality programs begin kindergarten socially and emotionally competent.  

Children who enjoy high-quality early learning experiences are more likely to stay in school, attend college, earn more money, and land a high-skill job.  

Society saves up to $7 for every $1 invested in quality early education and care – in the special education, juvenile justice, and welfare systems alone. 

When children are in high-quality care, working parents are more productive, have less absenteeism, show greater work focus, and have better overall work performance.

A year of child care costs parents more than a year of college. 

Child care breakdowns leading to employee absences cost businesses $3 billion annually. 

Relationships that are positive, trusting, reciprocal, and flexible, and that embody pro-social, child-friendly values protect children against child abuse and neglect.  

In Ohio, the early education and care industry generated over $1.95 billion in gross receipts and account for nearly 57,000 jobs.  In Stark County, gross receipts are $57.5 million and there are approximately 1,400 full-time equivalent employees. 

The average child-care worker earns less than $15,000 a year. 

65% of mothers with children under the age of six are in the labor force.