"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in."
Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson
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 a greater work focus, and 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 generates over $1.95 billion in gross receipts and accounts 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.
