Research shows that…
A child’s opportunities for lifelong happiness and wellbeing are increased if we lay the right foundations in the early years of life.

The report "The Concerns of Australian Parents" regarding recent research conducted with parents in Australia states that,

"…it was clear that positive attachments and good relationships were perceived by parents as their highest priority in raising children."

Joe Tucci, Chris Goddard & Janise Mitchell
The Australian Childhood Foundation, March 2004



"Although families may be challenged to meet the busy demands of juggling work and home, there is reason to believe that routines and rituals may ease the stress of daily living."

Single parents have particular challenges in meeting the needs of their children on their own. Routines and rituals are known to play a positive role in sole-parent families where an effort was made to "…create special times together through bedtime routines, special family activities, and holiday celebrations."

Both of the above quotes came from the following source:
Barbara H. Fiese, Thomas J. Tomcho, Michael Douglas, Kimberly Josephs, Scott Poltrock & Tim Baker
"A Review of 50 Years of Research on Naturally Occurring Family Routines and Rituals: Cause for Celebration?"’
Journal of Family Psychology
Syracuse University, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2002, pp. 381-390

"There is powerful new evidence from neuroscience that the early years of development…particularly for the first three years, set the base for competence and coping skills that will affect learning, behaviour and health throughout life. …nurturing by parents in the early years has a decisive and long-lasting impact on how people develop, their capacity to learn, their behaviour and ability to regulate their emotions and their risks for disease in later life."

Margaret McCain & Fraser J. Mustard
Reversing the Real Brain Drain: Early Years Study, Final Report
Ontario Children’s Secretariat, April 1999

"…when a baby has consistently received what she needs–comfort when upset, stimulation that is not overwhelming, and plenty of loving, playful interactions with gentle encouragements…she learns to trust the world around her and she is more able to develop the social and emotional skills needed to succeed later in school and throughout life."

James J. Heckman, PhD, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
Invest In the Very Young
Ounce of Prevention Fund and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Studies, 2000

For more research on children and families, click here to visit The Benevolent Society’s website.