Early relationships matter.

Welcome to Love from the Start, where we share insight about the profound impact caring, responsive adults have on the development of infants and young children.

From day one, children look to parents and caregivers for love, guidance, and security. Babies' brains are wired for relationships right from birth—flourishing every time someone connects, talks, or plays with them.

The warmth of even one nurturing, caring relationship establishes the foundation for a lifetime of positive mental health.

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In winter/spring 2025, we will begin community webinars and other events to share the message that early relationships matter. If you'd like to stay up to date on our campaign, please sign up below.

What is Love from the Start?

Frederick Douglass's timeless wisdom echoes: "It is easier to build strong children than to fix broken men.” But what does it take to build strong children? That is what Love from the Start is all about! We want to help more parents and caregivers in our area learn to build strong children.

Start with love: A core human need.

When we consider what babies and children need to thrive, we often prioritize external factors like food, shelter, clothing, and medicine—crucial elements for their survival and physical health. We seek to protect them from harm. However, what about their internal well-being—their heart and their brain? Their resilience?

Strong early attachments with caring adults correlate with better mental health and fewer behavior challenges as children grow up and face difficulties. This campaign reminds adults of the greatest need: love. Dr. Carl C. Bell emphasizes, "Risk factors are not predictive factors because of protective factors."

Research indicates that the presence of a caring adult is one of the most powerful protective factors for a child—and this starts from birth!

What is infant and early childhood mental health?

Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) focuses on the social-emotional development of children from birth through age 5. IECMH is not about putting babies on a therapist’s couch but rather focuses on the capacity of very young, developing minds to experience emotions, form relationships, and learn, all in the context of their families, communities, and cultures.

Nurturing and responsive interactions where adults connect, talk, and play with the kids in their lives foster confidence, resilience, and communication skills, vital for future problem-solving, stress management, and healthy relationships. Connecting early and often with babies and toddlers is how they learn new things and feel safe and loved!

The quality of caregiver/child relationship is crucial during the first years of brain development. The first three years are a phase of rapid brain development—babies' brains create 1 million new neural connections every second, laying the foundation for overall well-being. Early relationships set the stage for a lifetime of positive mental health.

Want to learn how to get started? It's easy but powerful! We are going to let Molly (age 7) explain how:

Resource Library

Explore the resources below for insights, strategies, and support to nurture your young child's mental health during these all-important early years.

Foundations for Infant Mental Health (InfoAboutKids.org)
- "All of baby’s experiences change their brain’s foundation and can help or hurt its growth."
Serve and Return Interactions with Babies (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University)
"Yes, mental health includes babies" (Zero to Three)
"What does trauma do to a baby's brain?" (Zero to Three)
Developmental Milestones (CDC)
- "Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving 'bye bye' are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move."
Early Brain Development and Health (CDC)
"Dyadic therapy changes lives" (First 5 Center for Children's Policy)
Relationships and Child Development, Ages 0-5 (raisingchildren.net.au)
- "By building a warm, positive and responsive relationship with your child now, you’re helping to shape the adult your child will become and giving your child a strong foundation for the rest of their life."
"What is infant mental health?" (video) (Eastern Connecticut State University)
"Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Children" (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University)

"Simple ways to show your child you love them" (Parents)
"Four powerful ways parents can express their love to their kids" (The Lincoln Center for Family & Youth)

Place Matters: What Surrounds Us Shapes Us (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University)
The Pair of ACEs and Community Resilience (.pdf) (Center for Community Resilience at George Washington University)

Josh Shipp: The Power of One Caring Adult (video)
- "The difference between a statistic and a success story is you."
Risk and Protective Factors (.pdf) (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
"The science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)" (Number Story)
"Emotional literacy may be the key element in combating suicide in Black children" (Parents)
"The Power of Positive Experiences" (video) (Number Story)

Social Media Toolkit

Below you'll find ready-made images you can share to your social media networks to show that love is the most powerful way to help young children reach their full potential. Together, let's build a foundation that lasts a lifetime by giving all our children Love from the Start.

We invite you to use the hashtag #LoveFromTheStart and to tag Healthi Kids in your posts.