inbriEf | T H E I M PA C T O F E A R LY A DV E R S I T Y O N C H I L D R E N S D E V E LO P M E N T

EN BREVE | EL IMPACTO DE LA ADVERSIDAD DURANTE

LA INFANCIA SOBRE EL DESARROLLO DE LOS NIOS
A series of brief What happens in early childhood can matter for a lifetime. To successfully
summaries of the
manage our societys future, we must recognize problems and address them before
scientific
Una
at
serie presentations
the
de
National
Lo
theyque sucede
get worse. en lachildhood,
in early infanciaresearch
temprana puede
on the biologyimportar a lo largo
of stress shows de
how major
resmenes breves de
Symposium
las on
presentaciones la vida. Para
adversity, manejar
such as exitosamente
extreme poverty, abuse, orel futuro
neglect cande nuestra
weaken sociedad,
developing brain
Early Childhood
cientficas
Science
el
realizadas en
and Nacional
Simposio Policy. debemos
architecture reconocer
and permanently los problemas
set the bodysystress
abordarlos
responseantes
systemde quealert.
on high
Science also shows that providing stable, responsive, nurturing
empeoren. Las investigaciones sobre la biologa del estrs durante relationships in the
sobre Ciencia y Poltica
earliest years of life can prevent or even reverse the damaging effects of early life stress,
para la Primera Infancia.
la infancia
with temprana
lifelong benefits muestran
for learning, cmo
behavior, adversidades
and health. mayores, como
la pobreza extrema, el abuso o la negligencia pueden debilitar la
1
al
Early experiences influence the developing
arquitectura
enthe
years of life,
del cerebro en desarrollo
brain. From the prenatal period through the
firstestrs permanente
brain undergoesalerta.
with adults, he learns to cope with everyday
y poner al sistema de respuesta
challenges and his stress response system returns
La ciencia
its most rapid muestra
to baseline. Scientiststambin questress.
call this positive
proporcionar relaciones estables, receptivas, enriquecedoras
development, and early experiences determine Tolerable stress occurs when more y difficul-
serious
whether its architecture is sturdy or fragile. Dur- ties, such as the loss of a loved one, a natural
propicias durante
ing early sensitive los
periods of primeros
development, theaos disaster,
de vidaor puede prevenir
a frightening injury, are o incluso
buffered by
revertir losisefectos
brains circuitry most openperjudiciales
to the influence of del estrs temprano,
caring adults who help theconchild beneficios
adapt, which
external experiences, for better or for worse. During mitigates the potentially damaging effects of
duraderos para el
these sensitive periods, aprendizaje,
healthy emotional el comportamiento y la salud.

1
and Las
cognitive
el cerebro
adults, prenatal
periodo
development
experiencias
responsive, dependable
tempranas
en desarrollo.
while chronic
is shaped
Desde el with
or extreme
y durante
by
influyen en
interaction
adversity
los primeros aos
La negligencia extrema disminuye
la fuerza del cerebro
de
canvida, el cerebro
interrupt humano
normal brain experimenta
development.su For
crecimiento ms rpido y las experiencias
example, children who were placed shortly
tempranas determinan si su arquitectura ser
after birth
robusta into Durante
o frgil. orphanages with conditions
los periodos
of severedel
sensibles neglect showtemprano,
desarrollo dramatically
los de- Institucionalizados
creased del
circuitos brain activity
cerebro compared
estn to children
ms abiertos a la
influencia
who werede las experiencias
never externas, para
institutionalized.
bien o para mal. Durante estos periodos

2
sensibles, el desarrollo emocional y cognitivo
Chronic
saludable
receptiva
stress can
es modelado
ing brains.
y confiable
adversityque
mientras is an
porbe
Learning
la toxic
con loshow
importantcrnica
la adversidad
to develop-
interaccin
to cope with
adultos,
part ofohealthy
extrema
Nunca
institucionalizados

puede interrumpir el desarrollo

child development. When wenormal del
are threat-
cerebro.
ened, our bodies activate a variety ofpoco
Por ejemplo, los nios a los que
Fuente: C.A. Nelson (2008); Marshall, Fox y BEIP Core Group (2004).
despus de nacer se deja en orfanatos con
physiological responses, including
condiciones de negligencia severa, muestran increas-
es inactividad
una heart rate, blood
cerebral pressure, and stress La The
dramticamente
brains activity can be measured in electrical impulseshere,
actividad cerebral puede medirse en impulsos elctricos. Aqu, los colores
hot colors like red or orange indicate more activity, and each column
hormones such
disminuida, as cortisol.
comparados con losWhen
niosa que
young clidos como el rojo o el naranja indican una actividad mayor y cada
showsmuestra
columna a different kind oftipo
un diferente brain activity. cerebral.
de actividad Young children
Los nios institutional-
pequeos
nunca
child isestuvieron
protected enby
entornos institucionales.
supportive relationships institucionalizados
ized in poor conditions show precarias
en condiciones much less than theuna
presentan expected
actividad activity.
mucho
menor que la esperada.

POLiCY iMPLiCATiONS
IMPLICACIONES
lThe basic principles ofDE POLTICA
neuroscience indicate that providing supportive and positive conditions
for early childhood development is more effective and less costly than attempting to address the
Los principios bsicos
consequences deadversity
of early la neurociencia indican que
later. Policies andproporcionar
programs thatcondiciones positivas
identify and de apoyo
support para
children
el desarrollo
and familiesde la infancia
who are most temprana resulta
at risk for ms efectivo
experiencing y menos
toxic stresscostoso
as earlyque atender las
as possible consecuen-
will reduce or
cias dethe
avoid la adversidad
need for moretemprana
costlyms
andtarde
lessen la vida. remediation
effective Las polticas yand
programas
supportque con la mayor
programs downpronti-
tud identifican y apoyan a los nios y familias ms en riesgo de experimentar estrs txico reducirn o
the road.
evitarn la necesidad de que ellos requieran ms delante de programas de apoyo y recuperacin, ms
l From pregnancy through early childhood, all of the environments in which children live and learn,
costosos y menos eficaces.
and the quality of their relationships with adults and caregivers, have a significant impact on
their
Desdecognitive,
el embarazoemotional,
y hasta laand social
primera development.
infancia, todos los Aentornos
wide range ofcuales
en los policies, including
los nios viventhose
y apren-
La versin en castellano directed toward early care and education, child protective services, adult mental health,
den, y la calidad de sus relaciones con los adultos y los cuidadores, tienen un impacto significativo family
sobre
del documento se ha economic supports,
su desarrollo and
cognitivo, many other
emocional areas,
y social. Unacan promote
amplia gama the safe, supportive
de polticas, environments
incluyendo and
aquellas dirigidas
realizado con el apoyo del stable, caring
al cuidado relationships
y educacin thatlos
temprana, children need.
servicios de proteccin de la infancia, la salud mental de los adul-
Banco Interamericano de tos, el apoyo econmico para las familias y muchas otras reas, pueden promover los entornos seguros y
Desarrollo. de apoyo, y las relaciones estables y afectuosas que los nios necesitan.
2
ers inElthe
en
estrs crnico
family
desarrollo.
puede ser txico para los cerebros
or community.
Aprender
Young children naturally reach a lidiar con la adversidad
es una parte importante del desarrollo saludable del
out for interaction through
prolongadas como la pobreza extrema o el abuso
reiterado y el nio las enfrenta sin el apoyo de los
adultos, el estrs se vuelve txico porque el exceso de
nio. Cuando nos sentimos amenazados, nuestros cortisol perturba los circuitos del cerebro en desarrollo.

3
babbling,
cuerpos facial
activan unaexpressions,
variedad de respuestas fisiolgicas,
and gestures,
incluyendo and adults
incrementos en el ritmo cardiaco, la presin Una adversidad temprana significativa puede
arterial
respond y las hormonas
abnormal levels of stresskind
with the same del estrs oftales como
hormones. Whenelstrong,
cortisol. and mental conducir health.a problemas
The moreaadverse lo largo de la vida. El estrs
experiences in
Cuando
vocalizing un nio
and pequeo
gesturing est protegido por relaciones
back experiences such as txico experimentado temprano en la vida y los precipi-
defrequent,
apoyo con or prolonged
los adultos, adverse childhood, the greater the likelihood of developmen-
abnormal
at them. Inlevels
the of stressaprende
absence hormones.
of such
a enfrentar los
When strong, and mental health. The more adverse experiences in el
tantes comunes del estrs txico como la pobreza,
extreme
desafos poverty
diarios y or
su repeated
sistema deabuse are experienced
respuesta al estrs talabuso
delays and
o la other problems.
negligencia, lalikelihood Adultsawith
exposicin more ad-el
frequent, or prolonged
responsesor if thesu adverse experiences such as
responses childhood, the greater the of la violencia,
developmen-
without adult support,
regresa stress becomes toxic, as verse experiences in early childhood are alsoomore
extremediariamente
poverty or arepeated puntoabuse
de partida. Los cientficos
are experienced abuso de sustancias por
tal delays and other problems. Adults with moreparte de los padres enferme-
ad-
are unreliable
excessive
llaman a esto or inappropri-
cortisol
estrs disrupts
positivo. developing brain circuits.
El estrs tolerable se likely
dades tomentales
have health problems,
de ellos pueden including
producir alcoholism,
un dao
without adult support,
produce
stress becomes toxic, as verse experiences insalud
earlyfsica
childhood areyalso more
atethecuandobrainssearchitecture
presentan dificultades ms serias, acumulativo en la
depression, heart disease, and diabetes. y mental del individuo.

3excessive
como la
doesSignificant
not
cortisol
prdida
form as de disrupts
un ser
early
developing
querido,
adversity
expected, canunleadbrain circuits.
desastre natural o
to lifelong
likely
En latomedida

4
depression,
have health en queproblems,
heart disease,
existan ms
and
including
experiencias
diabetes.
alcoholism, adversas

3
una lesin traumtica,
problems. Toxic y stas
stress son amortiguadas
experienced early inpor
life durante la infancia, habr una
Early intervention can prevent the consequences mayor probabilidad de
which can
Significantleadearly
toque
disparities
adversity in
can lead toa lifelong

4
adultos
and afectuosos
common precipitantsayudan of a los
toxic nios adaptarse,
stresssuch as retrasos en el desarrollo y de
of early adversity. Research shows that later otros problemas. Los
learning
lo que andlos
mitiga
problems. behavior.
efectos
Toxic potencialmente
stress experienced perjudiciales
early in life de adultos que cuando nios
Early intervention can preventexperimentaron
the consequencesms adversi-
poverty, abuse or neglect, parental substance abuse interventions are likely to be lessmayores
successfuland

3
los
andniveles
common anormales de hormonas
precipitants del estrs. Cuando
of toxic stresssuch as se dad son tambin
of early adversity. los que
Researchtienen shows thatprobabilidades
later
or mental
presentan illness,
experiencias
The brains andadversas
capacityexposure
for to violencecan
fuertes, frecuentes o indesome cases areproblemas
experimentar ineffective.de For example,
salud, comowhen alcoholismo,
poverty, abuse or neglect, parental substance abuse interventions are likely to be less successfuland
have a cumulative toll on an individuals physical the same children
depresin, who experienced
enfermedades cardacas extreme
y diabetes. ne-
change decreases with

4
or mental illness, and exposure to violencecan in some cases are ineffective. For example, when
glect were placed in responsive foster care
age.
haveThe brain is most
a cumulative toll onflex-
an individuals physical the sameLachildrenintervencin
who experienced
temprana
extreme
puede
ne-
families before age two, their iQs prevenir
increasedlas
ible, or plastic, early in life glect were placeddeinlaresponsive
consecuencias adversidad
more substantially and their brain activity and
foster
temprana.care La
to accommodate a wide range families
Brains subjected to toxicinvestigacin
stress have before
demuestra
underdeveloped age two, que their
las
neural iQs increased
intervenciones
connections tardas
in areas of the
Una adversidad significativa perjudica attachment relationships were more likely to
of environments and interac- brain most important fortienen more
successfulmenos substantially
probabilidades
learning and their
and behavior de brainy,and
xito
in school activity
enthe and
algunos
workplace.
el desarrollo en los primeros tres aos become normal than if they were placed after
tions, but as the maturing brain casos, son ineficaces.
attachment Por ejemplo,
relationships were un more grupolikely detonios
sites the success
for
que experiment
age of two. While there
in school
negligencia and is no ymagic
later
extrema infuetheubicadoage en
workplace
becomes more specialized to assume more com- become normal than if they were placed after
and for intervention,
community.
familias it is clear that,de inlos
most doscases,
plex functions, it is less capable of reorganizing the sustitutas
age of two.receptivasWhile there antes
is no magic aos de
age
edadfor intervening
experiment asmayores
early asincrementos
possible is significantly
intervention, it is clear that, in mostsu en coeficien-

5
cases,
and adapting to new or unexpected challenges. For more
te intelectual
Toxic effective
y
stressas su than
actividad
damages waiting.
cerebral
developing y sus brain archi-de
relaciones
intervening early as possible
apego se volvieron ms normales que sus compaeros
is significantly
example,
Nios con by the first year, the parts of the brain that

5
tecture,
more effective
que fueron
which than
ubicados
can lead
waiting.
en relationships
este
to life-longdeproblems
mismo tipo hogares
in
retrasos en el
differentiate sound are becoming specialized to Stable, caring are essential
desarrollo learning,
despus de behavior,
los dos and physical
aos. Aunque noand hay mental
una health.
edad

5
the language the baby has been exposed to; at the for healthy development. Children de-
Scientists
mgica now
Stable,
para know
caringthat chronic,
relationships unrelenting
are
enessential stress
same time, the brain is already starting to lose the velop in laanintervencin,
environmentes ofclaro,
relationships la mayorathat de
losearly
in casos, forque intervenir
healthy
childhood, lo ms
development.
caused by pronto
Children
extreme posible de-es
poverty,
ability to recognize different sounds found in other mucho
begin
ms
in the home and include extended fam-
repeatedvelop inefectivo
abuse, or que
an environment severe esperar. of relationships
maternal depression, that

5
languages. Although the windows for language ily members, early care and education provid-
begin
for example, in the home and include extended fam-
ers,
Las and can members
relaciones
be toxic
estables of thetoy the developing
community.
afectuosas son Studies brain.
esenciales
learning and other skills Nmero remain
de factoresopen,
de riesgothese brain ily
Whilepara members,
positive early
stress care
(moderate,and education
short-lived provid-physi-
show elthat toddlers
desarrollo who
saludable. have Lossecure,
nios trusting
se desarro-
circuits become increasingly difficult to alter
Fuente: over
Barth et al. (2008)
ologicalers, and
unresponses
llan enrelationships
members
entorno de to of the community.
uncomfortable
relaciones
Studies
experiences)
with parentsque comienza
or non-parent en el
care-
time. Early plasticity means its easier and more is anshow
hogar that atoddlers
e incluye
important
givers los
andmiembros
experience
who have
necessary
minimal lasecure,
destress familia
aspect oftrusting
hormone extendida,
healthy
effective to influence a babys developing brain relationships
los proveedores de with
cuidado parentsyis or non-parent
educacin, y los care-
miembros
development,
activationtoxic when stress
frightened thebystrong,
a strange unrelieved
event,
architecture than to rewire parts of its circuitry in de la givers
comunidad. experience Los minimal
estudios en stress
la hormone
materia demuestran
activationand thoseof thewho havestress
bodys insecure relationshipssys-
management
the adult years. que los bebs que
activation when tienen relaciones
frightened by aseguras
strangey confiables
event,
tem. experience
Inpadres
the absence a significant
ofcuidadores
the activation
buffering of the
protection of
Los factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardiacas en los adultos con los and those owho
con loshave insecure no parentales
relationships

4
estn implantados en las experiencias infantiles adversas adult stress
support,
experimentan response
unatoxicmnima system.
stress numerous
becomes
activacin de la scientific
builthormonainto the
del
Cognitive, emotional, and social capacities are experience a significant activation of the
body studies
estrsstress
cuando
by processessupport
se sienten these
that conclusions:
atemorizados
shape providing
porscientific
the architecture algn of
response system. numerous
inextricably intertwined throughout the life supportive,
acontecimiento
the developing responsive
extrao,
brain. y que relationships
aquellos que as early
tienen
studies support these conclusions: providing
course. The brain is a highly interrelated organ, and relacionesin lifeinseguras
as possible experimentan
can prevent unaor activacin
reverse the
___________________________________________
supportive,
significativa responsive
del sistema detoxic relationships
respuesta as early
its multiple functions operate in a richly coordinated damaging effects of stress.al estrs. Numero-
Odds For
sos morein lifeinformation,
estudios ascientficos
possible can seeprevent
apoyan Theestas Science of Early
orconclusiones:
reverse the
fashion.
Ratio Emotional well-being and social compe- ______________________________________
Childhood
damaging
proporcionar Development
effects of
relaciones toxicand
receptivas the
stress.
For more information, see The Science of Early y de Working
apoyo lo Paper
antes
tence provide a strong foundation for emerging posible
series en la thevidaNational
puede prevenir
______________________________________ o revertir los efectos
cognitive abilities, and together they are the bricks Childhood Development and the Working Paperthe
from Scientific Council on
nocivos For del
Developing more estrs txico. see The Science of Early
information,
Child.
series from the national Scientific Council on the
and mortar that comprise the foundation of human Childhood Development and the Working Paper
www.developingchild.harvard.edu/library/
Para Developing Child.vanse La Ciencia del Desarrollo Infan-
mayor
development. The emotional and physical health, seriesinformacin,
from the national Scientific Council on the
til Temprano y la serie de Documentos de Trabajo del Consejo
www.developingchild.harvard.edu/library/
social skills, and cognitive-linguistic
Experiencias adversas capacities that Developing Child.
As the number of adverse early childhood experiences mounts, Cientfico so Nacional de Desarrollo Infantil.
emerge inrisk
does the theofearly years aredelays
developmental all important prerequi-
Fuente: Dong
(top). et al. (2004)
Similarly, www.developingchild.harvard.edu/library/
www.developingchild.harvard.edu/library/
adult reports
As
of the number adverse
cumulative, of adverse early childhood
experiences in earlyexperiences mounts, to
childhood correlate soa
does
rangethe risk of developmental
of lifelong delaysand
problems in physical (top). Similarly,
mental adultthis
healthin reports
case,
ofheart
cumulative, adverse experiences in early childhood correlate to a
disease (bottom).
TAMBIN EN ESTA
THE INBRIEF SERIE:
SERIES:
range of lifelong
NGAproblems in physical and mental healthin this case,
Center for EN BREVE: La ciencia
INBRIEF: del desarrollo
The Science of Earlyinfantil temprano
Childhood Development
heart disease (bottom).
Best PrACtiCes EN BREVE: La funcin
INBRIEF: ejecutiva:
The Impact habilidades
of Early Adversitypara la vida y el Development
on Childrens aprendizaje
THE
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La ciencia de la negligencia
NGA Center for inBRIEF: Early Childhood Program Effectiveness
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of Early Adversity Health Development
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