Early Childhood

Early childhood policy covers the years before kindergarten, when families juggle work, child development, and the high cost of quality care. A mix of federal, state, and local programs helps pay for care, sets standards for providers, and supports children with developmental or health needs during a period when brain development happens fastest.

Finding and paying for care is often the first hurdle new parents face. Child Care and Preschool covers how to locate licensed providers and understand the different types of care available, while Child Care Subsidies and Affordability explains the assistance programs that help lower-income families cover the cost of care and how eligibility and funding rules can shift over time.

Publicly funded preschool gives many children their first structured learning experience. Head Start and State Pre-K Programs looks at how these programs combine early education with health, nutrition, and family support services, and how income guidelines and enrollment work in practice.

Children with developmental delays or disabilities have a separate set of protections and services. Early Intervention Services explains how families can get an infant or toddler evaluated and connected to therapies and support before school age. Parents managing routine pediatric care may also want a Parental Guide to the CDC Childhood Vaccine Schedule, which walks through why the recommended schedule looks the way it does.