# Rethinking early childhood for a changing world

> Experts say we need bolder action on child development, not just rhetoric about the future.
- Title: Rethinking early childhood for a changing world · TIME
- Summary: Experts say we need bolder action on child development, not just rhetoric about the future. Early childhood shapes lifelong health and resilience, but…
- Keywords: early childhood development, jack shonkoff, harvard university, pia rebello britto, unicef, rosemarie truglio, sesame workshop, child health, educational equity, brain development, child nutrition, play-based learning
- Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/09/23/time100-talks-panel-early-childhood-development
- Author: Rebecca Schneid
- Published: 2026-09-23T16:29:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: early childhood development, jack shonkoff, harvard university, pia rebello britto, unicef, rosemarie truglio, sesame workshop, child health, educational equity, brain development, child nutrition, play-based learning
## Early years shape lifelong outcomes
The first years of childhood determine not just academic readiness but also lifelong health, resilience, emotional well-being, and brain development.
## Move beyond rhetoric to action
Harvard's Jack Shonkoff says experts need to stop saying children are the future and start explaining what concrete steps they'll take to address disparities.

> Let's move beyond quickly on the fact that children are our future, and say what we are going to do about that.
## Three pillars for child development
UNICEF's Pia Rebello Britto focuses on eat, play, and love: ensuring nutrition, brain-stimulating interaction, and the human trust that protects children in crisis.

> Eat, play, and love. That's the foundation of it all.
## Teaching kindness through media
Sesame Workshop teaches children cognitive skills, self-regulation, and empathy through joyful media, aiming to grow kids who are smarter, stronger, and kinder.

> Our mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
## The my children versus yours problem
Shonkoff identifies a major barrier: people prioritize their own children's welfare over others', but everyone pays a price when communities lack common cause.

> We all pay a price for that lack of finding common cause.
## Getting governments to invest
Britto says child health hasn't become a vote-getting issue or commercial incentive for governments, so UNICEF brings teachers, parents, and caregivers into policy conversations.
## Community voices shape solutions
Sesame Workshop creates practical blueprints by consulting parents, teachers, and administrators rather than developing content in isolation.

> Let's just not create content in a vacuum.
## AI changes education, not connection
While artificial intelligence will reshape how children learn, Shonkoff says social connection remains non-negotiable, and Truglio warns against letting machines replace fundamental cognitive skills.

> Social connection is like hunger and thirst for humans. It's survival.
## Key takeaway

Early childhood shapes lifelong health and resilience, but progress requires moving beyond platitudes to concrete action on equity and community involvement.