When children succeed, they are more likely to create successful futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Because today’s children will become the next generation of workers, parents, and leaders, we can only create a prosperous future by giving them the developmental building blocks they need to succeed in those endeavors.
The research points to what these “building blocks of success” are for children. They include nurturing families, early education, quality health care throughout childhood, nutrition, safe communities, and adequate housing. Successful children must have these building blocks as their foundation.
Just as a house built on a faulty foundation cannot stand up to stress, children also suffer when their development is interrupted by the effects of poverty, unattended health problems, unsafe environments, or relationships that aren’t nurturing. These interruptions, known as “toxic stress” can permanently damage a child’s brain functioning and ability to fully develop.
The Building Blocks for Successful Children
Access data on the status of Olmsted County children across key indicators in education; economic well-being; family and community; health; safety and risky behaviors at the Kids Count Data Center.
Download a copy of The Building Blocks for Successful Children, the 2009 Minnesota Kids Count data book.
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