Mental health has become a critical part of our medical knowledge in recent years. As increases in research are completed, we learn more of how mental health affects many domains of our physical health and overall wellness. 

However, there is still one area that many people neglect or are dismissive of, and that is infant and early childhood mental health. The lack of communication about how brains develop during these early years allows us to overlook the importance of mental wellness of our youngest. Yet, research demonstrates that these early years are the most impactful towards the future of that individual.  

The relationships and experiences a baby and toddler have, will have resounding impacts. No more thinking that just because the baby or young child won’t remember an exposure to things like violence, neglect, or poverty does not mean it will not have long-term negative effects. Exposure to these adversities over time affects the chemical make-up of the brain. We see the results in adults with issues like being in constant stress (fight or flight), decreases in graduation rates, and poor interpersonal relationships. 

Babies do not have a choice if they will grow up in poverty or experience trauma, but there is something we can do as a community to give our youngest a better opportunity for success in life. We can make sure that all of our youngest have access to quality early care programming with adults who are responsive and supportive of children’s needs. Research shows that sometimes it only takes a baby or young child to have one quality relationship in their early years to buffer or to teach resilience to adversities. A quality relationship provides consistency, love, and safety. Our youngest and most vulnerable do not have a voice in this, so it is up to us as a community to ensure that we are doing everything we can to provide our children with opportunities to grow healthy. 

Currently Green County, along with United Way, was able to procure a grant to assist 13 programs in our area with access to a mental health therapist to support teachers and reduce expulsion rates of children in child care settings. This grant expires at the end of the year, we are hoping to be able to continue the program next year, given the benefits early childcare professionals and the children they serve receive.  

— Child Care Matters is a series written by local child care providers. Brook Skidmore of The Growing Tree runs a child care center in New Glarus.