To the Editor:

One of the best gifts we can give our children is a strong foundation that will prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow. The child care crisis is causing a seismic shift in the economy and one that affects two generations: the parents who work to get their family on sound financial footing and the children who, research shows, greatly strengthen their cognitive and social skills from early education and go on to become successful adults.

The May 21 article “More companies offer on-site child care. Parents love the convenience, but is it a long-term fix?” touches on many important points but omits a critical one: early reading promotes brain development and builds vocabulary.

Thirty-seven percent of children arrive at kindergarten without the skills necessary for lifetime learning, and the more students read or are read to on their own time and at home, the higher their reading scores, generally. The greatest amount of brain growth occur between birth and age five; by age 3, roughly 85% of the brain’s core structure is formed. Early exposure to language can prove transformative for children and all child-care programs – on-site at their parents’ work or not – will be most effective when this element is reinforced. Additionally, early learning programs receive almost no public funding; they need our immediate help to stay buoyant.

Neil Henry, Regional President, Citizens National Bank; ReadyNation member