With statistics in hand on the benefits of early braindevelopment and the connection between learning and earning, theMississippi Economic Council is traveling the state to encourageprivate investment in education opportunities at daycarefacilities.

That is certainly a worthy goal, but is one that must be boughtinto by all aspects of society. Not the least of those isparents.

Parental involvement in their child’s education in the earlyformative years of life is pivotal in fostering a home environmentwhere reading and learning are cherished and the obvious valuesrecognized. By establishing that foundation, children aremuch-better prepared when they start their formal education journeyin kindergarten or the first grade.

Such is the message of MEC’s Next Steps Tour.

Among the facts presented during a stop Tuesday in Brookhaven, ababy’s brain by age 3 has reached almost 90 percent of its adultsize.

Also, by age 3, children who live in homes with college-educatedparents use twice as many vocabulary words as children in homeswith parents on welfare. Vocabulary at an early age is a primarypredictor of success in the future, officials said.

Unfortunately, far too many parents are willing to accept mediocredaycare centers where naptime and silence may be valued overinteractive activities and educational opportunities. Furthermore,data used by the Mississippi Building Blocks Program showed manydaycare centers in the state placing far below average in allaspects of operations.

As part of a three-year project, the building blocks program isaiming to improve school readiness of children enrolled inparticipating daycare centers. There are monetary enticements forcenters to participate by providing higher quality care.

While there are personal benefits from early childhood efforts,there is also much to be gained from a societal and regionalstandpoint.

Better-educated members of society are more likely to becontributors to it rather than drains on it. That means more peoplewith good, private-sector jobs and paying taxes instead of thosewithout jobs and becoming a drain on tax rolls.

From the standpoint of only being as strong as one’s weakest link,the regional need for an educated workforce is paramount aswell.

One community in a region may invest mightily in improving allareas of its educational opportunities. However, surroundingcommunities that do not pull the rest of the area down in itsability to capitalize on economic development opportunities.

The importance of education for individuals and society as a wholecannot be understated.

The journey, though, begins in the home. Parents must be willing torecognize and take that first step before everyone can realize thebenefits of ‘Next Steps.”