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Giving Children a Lifetime of Health | Health Trends in Early Childhood Education (ECE) – October 2026

September 21, 2026

Trend

  • We know more than ever before how pre- and post-natal health behaviors, emotional support, and comprehensive services provided in early childhood education programs are sources of protective factors which can reduce poor health outcomes for children and their families.

Explanation

Impacts of Healthy Behaviors on Health Outcomes

Prenatal (Before and During Pregnancy)

Healthy Behavior

Associated Health Outcomes

Balanced nutrition (adequate folate, iron, calcium, iodine, protein)

Reduced risk of birth defects, low birth weight, preterm birth, maternal anemia, and developmental problems. Maternal nutrition | UNICEF; pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Regular prenatal care

Earlier detection and management of pregnancy complications; improved maternal and infant survival. Maternal health

Avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs

Reduced risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, low birth weight, and developmental disorders. Substance Use During Pregnancy | Maternal Infant Health | CDC; Smoking, Pregnancy, and Babies | Overviews of Diseases/Conditions | Tips From Former Smokers | CDC

Stress management and social support

Better maternal mental health and improved infant outcomes. Maternal health

Stress Management Can Improve Birth Outcomes: While stress management cannot eliminate all pregnancy risks, it can be an important protective factor and help pregnant individuals maintain healthy behaviors and engage consistently in prenatal care.

Postnatal (After Birth)

Healthy Behavior

Associated Health Outcomes

Maternal postpartum care and mental health support

Improved recovery, parent-child bonding, and family well-being. Maternal health

Breastfeeding

Improved infant immunity, lower risk of infections, obesity, diabetes, and SIDS; lower maternal risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding Benefits Both Baby and Mom | Breastfeeding | CDC

Well-child visits and immunizations

Prevention of infectious diseases and early identification of developmental concerns. About Learn the Signs. Act Early. | Learn the Signs. Act Early. | CDC

Impacts of Comprehensive Services in Early Childhood Education

Early childhood development and education are key determinants of future health and well-being. Early Childhood Development and Education – Healthy People 2030 | odphp.health.gov

  • Early childhood programs foster the mental and physical development of young children.
    • The Carolina Abecedarian Project found that the children in the study who participated in a high-quality and comprehensive early childhood education program that included health care and nutritional components were in better health than those who did not. 
  • Indicators of a high-quality early childhood development and education program include highly educated teachers, smaller classes, and lower child-staff ratios.

Healthy People 2030 infographic titled “Early Childhood Development and Education.” The graphic states that increasing access to high-quality, comprehensive early childhood development and education programs can improve children’s future health and well-being. An illustration shows a classroom with a teacher standing beside a whiteboard, children seated on a rug, a table with healthy snacks, and a health symbol. Three key benefits are described: (1) Health and Nutrition: children in high-quality programs that include health care and meals or snacks are in better health than children without access to similar programs; (2) Education: early childhood programs can improve learning and social skills and increase readiness for school; and (3) Quality: high-quality programs feature well-trained teachers and smaller class sizes. The graphic includes a Healthy People 2030 logo and a reference to additional information on health.gov.

Social Determinants of Health: Center-Based Early Childhood Education

High-quality early childhood education prepares children for school and improves physical health, mental health, developmental outcomes, and lifelong well-being, especially for children facing social or economic disadvantages.

Children in high-quality programs learn social-emotional skills which help reduce behavioral challenges and support positive mental health throughout childhood and adolescence.

Impact

Early childhood development and educational opportunities are affected by various environmental and social factors, including early life stress, socioeconomic status, relationships with parents and caregivers, and access to early education programs. The Foundations of Lifelong Health

Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, and play, which affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

Infographic from Healthy People 2030 titled “Social Determinants of Health.” In the center is a person icon representing individuals and their health. Surrounding the icon is a five-part circular chart illustrating key social determinants of health. The chart includes: Education Access and Quality, represented by a graduation cap; Health Care Access and Quality, represented by a white medical cross; Neighborhood and Built Environment, represented by a building and house; Social and Community Context, represented by a group of people; and Economic Stability, represented by a dollar sign. The graphic emphasizes that multiple social, economic, educational, community, environmental, and health care factors collectively influence health and well-being. The Healthy People 2030 logo is displayed at the bottom of the image.

Healthy People 2030, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved 9.18.26 from Healthy People 2030

Healthy People 2030 highlights the impact of safe housing, access to nutritious foods and physical health opportunities, transportation, and neighborhoods; polluted air and water: Social Determinants of Health – Healthy People 2030 | odphp.health.gov

Action

Establish practices for lifelong healthy behaviors:

Prioritize play!

Assist families in connecting with food and nutrition resources:

Assist families in connecting to quality early learning, health, and social services:

References

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Jun 9. Published in final edited form as: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Dec 27;226(5):607–632. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.12.035

Anderson, L. M., Shinn, C., Fullilove, M. T., Scrimshaw, S. C., Fielding, J. E., Normand, J., … & Task Force on Community Preventive Services. (2003). The effectiveness of early childhood development programs: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 24(3), 32–46.

Apostolopoulou, A.; Tranidou, A.; Tsakiridis, I.; Magriplis, E.; Dagklis, T.; Chourdakis, M. Effects of Nutrition on Maternal Health, Fetal Development, and Perinatal Outcomes. Nutrients. 2024 Jan 27;16(3):375. doi: 10.3390/nu16030375

Campbell, F., Conti, G., Heckman, J. J., Moon, S. H., Pinto, R., Pungello, E., & Pan, Y. (2014). Early childhood investments substantially boost adult health. Science, 343(6178), 1478–1485.

Muennig, P., Robertson, D., Johnson, G., Campbell, F., Pungello, E. P., & Neidell, M. (2011). The effect of an early education program on adult health: The Carolina Abecedarian Project randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Public Health, 101(3), 512–516.

NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2002). Child-care structure→ process→ outcome: Direct and indirect effects of child-care quality on young children’s development. Psychological Science, 13(3), 199–206.

Nutrients. Effects of Nutrition on Maternal Health, Fetal Development, and Perinatal Outcomes – PMC. 2024 Jan 27;16(3):375. doi: 10.3390/nu16030375:

Prepregnancy Diet Quality Index and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Ummayhany Bharmal, MBBS1; George Saade, MD2; Philip Greenland, MD3 et al. AMA Netw Open. Published Online: September 10, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.33245

About Child Trends in Early Childhood

Welcome to Health Trends in Early Childhood, the monthly release from The Pennsylvania Key, focused on trending health issues related to children birth to age five and their families and caregivers.

Each month, find information about a recent health trend, learn why it is important, discover the impact it has on children, their families and caregivers, and the community, as well as actions we all can take to ensure the health and well-being of children in our communities. Also, find reliable resources to learn more about the issue.

Visit The Pennsylvania Key's Health Trends in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Page

Disclaimer: This is the most updated information at release time. The information in Health Trends is not a Pennsylvania regulatory requirement for early childhood providers. Pennsylvania early childhood providers with regulatory requirements should contact their Cert rep or the Bureau of Certification.