The First 2000 Days Framework highlights the importance of a child’s first five years of life—approximately 2000 days—as a critical window for healthy development and lifelong wellbeing. Developed by NSW Health and supported by evidence from the Australian Centre for Community Child Health and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, this framework emphasises the need for strong foundations from birth.
During the first 1000 days, a child’s developmental plasticity is at it’s greatest, meaning that a child’s brain is rapidly growing, changing and developing every day. The brain continues to grow and change, however the foundations are laid down in these early years and after this development continues at a slower rate. Therefore, during this time early interventions should and must take place to improve a child’s overall long-term health and wellbeing, increasing optimal outcomes for families.
Evidence shows that prioritising and undertaking early intervention therapy can make a significant impact on children’s social, emotional and overall development, and a positive impact on school participation. Social and emotional skills are equally as important as cognition in establishing a child’s success in school and life.
The early years of a child’s life have a profound and lasting impact.
Research shows that a child’s development before age 2 (as early as 22 months) can strongly predict their educational outcomes at age 26. According to the AEDC (2015), one in five children start school developmentally vulnerable—and those who begin behind rarely catch up to their peers. A child’s developmental level at the start of kindergarten is a powerful predictor of their future academic success.
What happens during this critical period doesn’t just influence school readiness—it can shape lifelong outcomes, including:
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