The importance of children's earliest years has long been recognized, but our understanding of the underlying science has taken a significant leap in the past decades. Studies regularly document the effects that a child's earliest experiences can have on later life and adult health. There is a growing consensus among experts that a key mechanism linking childhood adversity to later health and well-being is the stress caused by early negative experiences. These early negative experiences manifest in neglect, emotional and physical abuse, and excessively harsh parenting.

From the very first moment that a child enters the world and throughout the first three years of life, positive parenting is the key needed to unlock his or her full potential. Babies are born ready to learn and parents are a child’s first teachers. Understanding the fundamentals of positive parenting can help new or expecting mothers and fathers ensure their child develops the tools that he or she needs to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom.