A chance to learn importance of preschool

I love this line from the compelling new documentary “No Small Matter”:

“Early childhood education is brain-building, not babysitting.”

If we thought of preschool and childcare as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to build children’s brains, we’d be doing a lot more to ensure that all families had access to and could afford to send their children to high-quality preschools and childcare centers.

Hardly anyone today doesn’t have reason to worry about childcare in this country. If you’re a parent who works outside the home, you definitely know the struggle. If you’re a grandparent, you see your own kids agonizing about where to take their children and how to afford the crushing cost. If you’re an employer, you see your employees distracted or missing work because of childcare complications.

Given how universal the challenge is, you’d think we’d be better about recognizing that supporting children’s education when they’re young isn’t a cost. It’s an investment — in our future and in their future.

This Thursday, the organization I lead is helping to bring “No Small Matter” to Dayton. We invite you to join us for this free onetime screening at 8 p.m. at the Neon Movies downtown. The film explores the explosion of new research around early brain development, how early learning creates the foundation for success in school and in life, and how the lack of affordable, quality early learning programs touches us all.

After the screening, an amazing former preschool teacher will join us on a panel. Rachel Giannini is featured in the film and left the profession because she couldn’t keep working a second job to afford to teach preschoolers. Preschool teachers often earn less than dog walkers and parking attendants.

Sixty-five percent of working moms today have children under age 5. If we want the benefit of their talent, if we want them to be able to concentrate on their work, if we want families and children to thrive, we have to make early childhood education a priority.

Just 3 percent of the $1.3 trillion America spends on education goes for children in the early years when their brains are being wired for life — when the Big Bang is happening inside their rapidly developing brains. Meanwhile, in 28 states, it is more expensive to pay for infant childcare than to attend a public college.

Our low-income children especially need access to quality learning. Some research suggests that by age 3, children from higher-income families have heard an average of 30 million more words than low-income children. Imagine how difficult kindergarten is for these young learners — and for their teachers who are charged with catching them up.

In Montgomery County, Preschool Promise is helping make quality childcare and Preschool more affordable for families. Our goal is that by 2025, 70 percent of Montgomery County 4-yearolds will have the opportunity to attend at least one year of high-quality Preschool. Learn more about this initiative at PreschoolPromise.org.

Another line from the movie I’ve also started sharing is that early childhood education is a grown-up issue. Our little ones are indeed wonders and capable of doing far more than we recognize. But they’re counting on us to ensure they get an enriching start in life.

Robyn Lightcap is executive director of the DaytonMontgomery County Preschool Promise. The film“No Small Matter”shows Thursday, 8 p.m. at the Neon Movies, 130 E. Fifth St., Dayton. Get free tickets: LearnToEarnDayton.org/ NSMregistration/