Early Child Development

Every child should grow up in caring, supportive, healthy environments and have access to high-quality early childhood education.

For almost 30 years, the Lawson Foundation has been at the forefront of supporting the science of early human development which shows that experiences during the prenatal and early childhood periods are key to the health, education, behaviour and the general well-being of children throughout their lives.

Research points to sensitive or critical periods in early brain development when children have the greatest ability to acquire certain developmental skills. The kinds of positive experiences children have early in life influence how they develop, and the benefits play out across later childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

In order to contribute to early childhood development in Canada and to help ensure universal access to high quality programs and services for children across the country, the Lawson Foundation is keen to support innovative community-based initiatives, new public policy approaches, and ongoing knowledge development and monitoring that will strengthen our ability to act effectively. Moreover, the Foundation will encourage the mobilization of knowledge that will help young families, practitioners, and decision makers create healthy, high quality environments for our children.

Understand our Impact

Access information about our granting history and the projects that we fund in our Grants Navigator

Related News and Updates

Hot off the Press: Early Childhood Education Report 2017

Hot off the Press: Early Childhood Education Report 2017

The Early Child Education report (ECER) has just been published! Released every three years, these assessments identify gaps and progress in the provision of early childhood services across Canada. In 2017, it's mainly a good news story -- depending on where you live...

National Child Data Strategy: Results of a Feasibility Study

National Child Data Strategy: Results of a Feasibility Study

National Child Data Strategy: Results of a Feasibility Study By  Sherri Torjman Released June 8, 2017 The Lawson Foundation, acting on the advice of pan-Canadian early child development stakeholders, recently commissioned a feasibility study, undertaken by Sherri...

In search of those unusual suspects

In search of those unusual suspects

Getting a better understanding of how you build local, national and international agendas focused on Early Childhood Education (ECE). Sharing experience and knowledge across borders. These were the focus and outcomes of the OECD’s first conference on early childhood...

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