Early Parenting Support Promotes Child Development, Academic Preparedness

A home-based program to support parents of newborns through age 3 was found to help prevent poverty-related disparities in child development and school readiness, according to a study, “Early Parenting Support on Child Development Through Age 6: The Smart Beginnings Model.” The study, published in the January 2026 Pediatrics (published online Dec. 15, 2025) reviewed results of the Smart Beginnings program involving 403 parent-child dyads in New York and Pittsburgh. The Smart Beginnings program integrated PlayReadVIP, a universal, pediatric primary care-based program, and Family Check-Up, a targeted secondary home-based parenting intervention. Half of the families were enrolled in Smart Beginnings, which supported parents’ interactions with their children to promote learning. The other half comprised a control group that received routine pediatric primary care, including immunizations, anticipatory guidance, and developmental surveillance. Research assistants conducted assessments of each child at ages 2, 4, and 6 years. Those who were enrolled in the Smart Beginnings program showed sustained effects in academic functioning in language, literacy, and math at the elementary school level. The authors conclude their findings shed light on early parenting support models that can positively impact child development and academic functioning across childhood.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.