Our first few years as a child can determine the rest of our lives

‘The return on investment in children between birth and 5 years old is about the kind of society we want them to grow up in.’ Photograph: Janine Wiedel Photolibrary/Alamy/Guardian Design

During pregnancy and then from birth to five years old, the critical foundations for our adult lives are built. Early childhood is the period when we are learning to understand that we have our own thoughts and feelings, and that others do too. This stage in life helps us to build the scaffolding for our future adult wellbeing.

To grow well and to be able to cope with the inevitable challenges life throws at us, we are reliant on this capacity being maximised during those early years. It is of benefit not just on an individual level, but also for our roles within our family, our community and indeed our whole society.