How “toxic stress” damages childhoods

Researchers have been talking about “toxic stress” in childhood for sometime, but a recent piece in the New Yorker shows how important this concept is. In a nutshell, researchers have found that children who face some sort of trauma early in life are much more likely to have behavioral and other problems later on, and this articles shows there may be a scientific connection.

“Researchers have observed that schoolchildren who experience early trauma find it harder to sit still and to follow directions. As teenagers, they are more likely to be drawn to high-risk behaviors. As adults, they often show increased aggression, impulsive behavior, weakened cognition, and an inability to distinguish between real and imagined threats.” Follow us on Twitter for updates on how early care and education can help children get off to a good start!