What Makes the Early Years So Important?

And, How Are Canadian Kids Doing?

Research shows that experiences between birth and age eight years of age lay the foundation
for later abilities to learn, work, and adopt healthy behaviors. During the first three years of life,
the brain develops more rapidly than at any other time during a person’s entire life. This is the stage when “attachment” to loving adults in the lives of infants and toddlers is vitally
important. As kids reach the mystical age of 3-8, the environments and experiences created by
parents, caregivers and educators have profound impacts on brain development. Children
raised in great environments that provide positive educational and social experiences have
lower risks of cognitive, behavioral, and health problems. And, that is what Resilient Kids
Canada is all about.

The “Raising Canada 2022” report indicates that one-third of Canadian kids do not enjoy a
safe and healthy childhood. (Children First Canada (https://childrenfirstcanada.org). In 2007,
Canada ranked 12th amongst 38 affluent countries and our ranking has fallen dramatically to
30th in 2021. Children continue to feel the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as we enter our third
year. By employing an equity, diversity and inclusion lens, the report places additional
emphasis on the inequities faced by our children and youth who experience systemic
discrimination.

Unfortunately, the “disruption to education” has resulted in an increase in the learning gap by
half a year of school for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds – and the learning loss
is real and significant. Statistical modeling suggests long-term impacts on students’ lifetime
earnings and the national economy. Moreover, research by People for Education
demonstrates gaps and inconsistencies in the implementation of anti-racism initiatives across
Canada, and particularly amongst publicly funded schools across Ontario.
(https://peopleforeducation.ca 2021-2022 Annual Ontario School Survey Data Handbook)

By identifying the threats to child and youth well-being that have accelerated during the
pandemic, parents, caregivers and educators are positioned to utilize their “parenting skills”
effectively they are positioned to reverse this trend; however, they need for all levels of
government, to invest in the needs of families, children and youth – the future of our country.
The report’s key findings relate to the following ten threats to Canadian children’s well-being:

Threats #1: Unintentional and/or Preventable Injuries resulted in 28% more children
attended emergency departments with injuries.

Threat #2: Poor Mental Health indicators report that 25% of young people (2-17) reporting
mental health challenges and more than 50% of youth (12-18) experience depression and 39%
face anxiety.

Threat #3: Systemic Racism and Discrimination are fueling inequitable access to critical
services such as access to healthcare, housing, education and employment opportunities.
Indigenous children are 12.4 times more likely to be placed in foster care than non-indigenous
children; transgender adolescents (15-17) are 7.6 times as likely to have attempted suicide
compared with their peers.

Threat #4: Child Abuse reports indicate that approximately 33% of Canadians report
experiencing some form of child abuse by 15 with a report of 40% among Indigenous
populations and 33% amongst children with disabilities. 25% of children experience sexual
harassment or assault in schools by grade 7 and the prevalence of online sexual abuse has been
increasing at higher rates than any other form of abuse, including physical, emotional and
neglect.

Threat #5: Vaccine-Preventable Illnesses are on the increase with approximately 25% of
children behind in their routine vaccinations and Covid-19 vaccination rates vary considerably
based on age and geography in Canada. Unfortunately, 25% of children who contact SARS-COV-
2 will develop “Long-Covid”.

Threat #6: Poverty and Food and Nutritional Insecurity reports indicate that over 1.3
million Canadian children (20%) live in poverty and 20% live in food-insecure households.

Threat #7: The infant Mortality rate of 4 infant deaths per 1000 births is high compared with
other OECD countries. Leading causes of infant mortality, included immaturity, birth defects,
severe lack of oxygen; infections and sudden infant death syndrome.

Threat #8: Bullying reports indicate that 33% of youth experience bullying and the rates are
higher amongst children from minority groups, 2SLGBTQIA+, immigrants, refugees and
Indigenous youth.

Threat #9: Limited Physical Activity and Play due to school closures and limited
extracurricular programs and gatherings have limited these benefits. Respondents to one study
demonstrated that 12% of young people did not meet the guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity.

Threat #10: Climate Change resulting in wildfires has resulted in acute bronchitis and asthma
symptoms more than doubled between 2013 and 2018. Canada ranks 24th in child illnesses due
to unsafe water despite having the third largest freshwater reserves in the world.

In summary, children who live with poverty, family stress, language barriers, and other risk
factors benefit the most from quality early childhood care and education programs. Resilient
Kids Canada is on the right pathway in supporting the development of educational strategies
that provides parents, caregivers and educators with insights, resources and tools for our
youngest learners.

Check out the Evidence Zone and contact us at info@resilientkidscan.org if you have any
questions and one of our Professional Advisors will respond to you.