Latest

Research Lab

“Gold Standard” Study Finds High-Quality Care Is Important in Infancy

Study Finds the Benefits Last Well Into Elementary School

Bryce Covert·August 14, 2023·5 min read

By now the benefits of high-quality preschool are widely accepted. But there are still open questions about its impact: Is...

New Research Examines How Austerity Following the Great Recession Widened the Child Care Gender Gap

Bruno J. Navarro·August 9, 2023·3 min read

Among the myriad economic effects on U.S. families stemming from the Great Recession, austerity measures implemented in many states also...

Will NYC Mayor Invest in Universal Pre-K or Let It Starve?

Elise Anderson·August 2, 2023·6 min read

Elected officials can determine the success or the failure of early childhood education programs by their policy choices. New York...

New Paper: Aligning Early Years and Climate Change Strategies Can Drive Action on Both Fronts

K.C. Compton·July 27, 2023·6 min read

The idea of climate change can seem so huge and impenetrable the temptation might be to panic, distract ourselves or...

New Research: Unsafe Feeding Skyrocketed During the Infant Formula Shortage

Alice Bradley·July 18, 2023·5 min read

During the 2022 formula shortage crisis, almost 50% of all surveyed parents who relied on formula to feed their babies...

New Study: We Can Change Minds—and Mindsets—About the Value of Early Childhood

K.C. Compton·June 22, 2023·7 min read

Considering how often we say we care about children in the U.S., one might assume we’d be able to point...

New Study: Hot Days Impact Kids’ Activity Levels and Health

Preschoolers’ Health in the Face of Rising Outdoor Heat

K.C. Compton·June 15, 2023·6 min read

Given the impact of high outdoor temperatures on the health of small children, we might want to start thinking of...

The Research-Backed Way to Keep Kids Safe

Anti-abortion lawmakers say they want to protect children. Here’s how.

Kendra Hurley·May 18, 2023·5 min read

Soon after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Twitter that his state would...

The Pandemic Disrupted Gender Equity at Home. Will It Last?

New Data Explored at Better Life Lab at New America Symposium

Rebecca Gale·March 28, 2023·4 min read

Before the pandemic began in March 2020, Melissa and Richard Head would have said they evenly split the child care...

In Babies’ Brains, White Matter Is Crucial—and Conversational Turns Make It Grow

K.C. Compton·March 14, 2023·6 min read

Most of us instantly recognize the term “gray matter” as a synonym for the brain. Mention “white matter” and you...