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Op-Ed The first years of a child's life are pivotal in the development of a child's ability to learn and to create, to love and to trust, to communicate and to develop a strong sense of self. According to several research studies, how we care for our children during these years has a lasting impact on how productive, resilient, compassionate and confident they will be as adults. No other factor is more important in determining a child's long-term success. As doctors, we witness firsthand the concern that parents have for their children and their future. When a child is sick, parents will go to virtually any lengths to help their child get better. They want the best for their children, and it is in our community's best interest that we do everything we can to help children's early years be as healthy and positive as possible. As parents and as a community we want basic things for our children. We want them to grow up knowing that they are loved. We want to provide them with opportunities in life to reach their fullest potential, and we want them to be healthy and happy. Being healthy and happy involves more than good nutrition and health care, although those are significant. Healthy child development also depends on safe and caring supervision, cognitive stimulation and social and emotional support on a daily basis. It is vitally important that preventative health measures are taken to help children stay healthy. Vaccination is one of the most important ways a parent can protect their child's health. Yet despite recent gains, 25.4% of two-year-olds in West Virginia are still missing one or more of their recommended immunizations. Parents and health care providers must work together to ensure that all children are immunized. Providing health insurance coverage for our children is another major factor affecting children's health. Despite recent improvements, over 10% of children in West Virginia (approximately 43,000) still have no insurance coverage meaning that they are unable to access preventative health care and screening. We need to share information about enrollment in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with those who are eligible and support efforts to expand coverage to others who are currently ineligible. Meeting a child's nutritional needs is integral to healthy development for a child's brain, and eating meals together as a family is also a proven strategy for helping strengthen bonds and relationships within families. As a community, we need to help those who have challenges providing healthy meals for their families. It is also important that children remain safe, so parents need help understanding how to keep their homes safe for infants and young children. Using car seats and seat belts is another important safety precaution to protect our children. Getting enough sleep and rest are also essential. Parents should try to have a consistent routine for their children that provides ample time for them to sleep and rest each day. Turning down the lights and keeping things a little quieter 30 minutes before bedtime helps children wind down and sleep better through the night. Keeping a television out of kids' bedrooms is also helpful. Reading, playing and engaging with children is extremely important to their development. Since many of the families of young children we see are working families, we understand the importance of access to quality child care programs with qualified caring staff to meet children's developmental needs. As a community, we must recognize the value and importance of healthy early child development and support programs that promote it. There is a role for each of us. While we consider economic development or other issues, we would be wise to remember what famous anthropologist Margaret Mead once said "The solution of all adult problems tomorrow depends in large measure upon the way our children grow up today."
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