In May 2026, the OECD published a report titled 'Building Strong Foundations for Life - Results from the 2025 Early Learning and Child Well-being Study', available here. Excerpts from the report follow:
1. The importance of early learning and development
Abstract
The International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study (IELS) provides a rich picture of children’s early learning and development outcomes by age 5. This chapter presents the rationale for focusing on children’s skills in the early years and outlines the factors and environments that drive positive early learning and development.Strong home environments provide a great start for every child
Children’s home environment is a strong predictor of children’s early development. Family socio-economic status, parental education, parenting behaviours and parental well-being all contribute to the home environment children experience and to their early learning and development outcomes (Feinstein, Duckworth and Sabates, 2008[45]).
Parents are the first to introduce children to the world. Parent-child interactions are enjoyable for both adults and infants and set in motion a positive cycle of communication. Infants form attachments to caregivers who respond promptly, warmly, and appropriately to their cues, and this sense of security supports learning (OECD, 2025[3]). The activities parents undertake with their children – such as reading together, engaging in warm and responsive interactions, and frequently using complex adult language – help create a home learning environment that supports children’s development of cognitive skills, self-regulation, social-emotional skills and overall well-being.
Additional Information:
Posted: Monday 8 June 2026