When it comes to preparing our kids for the future, it’s never too early to think big.

That’s why “cradle to career” is a rapidly growing field in workforce development, with tenets that emphasize early childhood education and interventions for kids 0-3. There’s even a lot of work being done in the prenatal space, including home visiting services for expectant parents who might need child care training.

While a 2016 survey showed that 60 percent of parents rely primarily on the K-12 school system to give their children the skills they need to succeed in life, decades of research shows that more needs to be done.

According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, essential neural pathways begin construction in the womb and early experiences can have a profound effect on higher-level skills in children.

There's no time like the present to innovate in this field and prepare kids for the future of work. Strada Education points out that automation threatens around 47 percent of jobs in the U.S. (and nearly $15 trillion in wages globally), while nearly half of young adults have not earned a postsecondary credential by the age of 30.

We risk leaving a whole generation behind if we do not act — so what can funders do to support this “cradle to career” strategy?

Cultivate Growing Minds With a Growth Mindset

Adults can help kids develop a sense of learning that is challenging, but rewarding. Quality early learning programs will emphasize encouraging messages from caregivers about the things they excel at and what they shouldn’t give up on. Allowing children to try things on their own, fail, then try again will amplify the pride they feel when they ultimately succeed much more than if something is done for them.

How it works in action: Programs that provide engaging activities with clearly defined goals can be the most effective. For instance, StriveTogether has developed a prenatal-age 3 network that identifies key milestones in a child’s development, shares data and uses coaching to foster continuous improvement. Meanwhile, the United Way’s parent-child home program showed a 85 percent increase in school readiness skills, such as greater focus on activities and more advanced communication. And in places like Louisville, KY, there are programs in place that emphasize early care and Kindergarten readiness, with a focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

Explore Expanded Learning Opportunities

There are plenty of opportunities for impact in the 5-12 year-old space. “Kids of that age do have a decision-making process, but it’s more driven by novelty-seeking and relationships with peers,” said Juliet Taylor, program officer at the Raikes Foundation.

Quality expanded learning opportunities (ELO) geared toward that drive — which can manifest itself in passion for the dramatic arts, community service or computer coding in afterschool settings — could make a big difference in a child’s development.

How it works in action: A consortium of funders — including the Raikes Foundation, the Hilton and Ford Foundations, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — are supporting a new body of research around the science of adolescent development that can be translated into policies and practices to improve ELO. Expect some results from this effort in 2019.

Always Think in Terms of Equity

“We're working to really think about kids who are least well-served by our system because of institutional racism,” says Taylor. Indeed, this inequity begins early in life, even in pre-K, where preschool expulsion rates disproportionally affect children of color (a recent government study showed that black children represent only 18 percent of the preschool population, but make up nearly half of out-of-school suspensions). Also, young kids in foster care or disadvantaged backgrounds often don’t have access to the same services that their peers do, which means they will likely fall behind in school (80 percent of kids from low-income households aren’t proficient in reading by the third grade).

How it works in action: Collaboration among different agencies, nonprofits, caregivers and the private sector can work toward addressing the gaps in our system. Minnesota’s Northside Achievement Zone engages with 40 different community partners to achieve results for low-income students: Children enrolled in that program are 34 percent more likely to be “kindergarten-ready” than their peers. That same state also has a Leadership Table around its community-focused Cradle to Career initiative, which includes representatives across different sectors, along with parents. In Washington, there’s a prevention focus (rather than a crisis response) when it comes to kids who are falling through the cracks and who may be exposed to trauma in some form. State agencies are more streamlined, making it easier for low-income families to navigate.