Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Early-childhood expert tells Buncombe County the 'daycare myth' understates infant learning and calls for earlier investments
Summary
Dr. Dan Wohrey told Buncombe County's early childhood committee Feb. 3 that science shows learning begins in utero and that policy should prioritize infant–toddler supports, workforce pay and training, and family leave rather than focusing only on preschool and K–12.
Dr. Dan Wohrey, a national early-childhood policy expert and author of The Daycare Myth, told the Buncombe County Early Childhood Education Committee that public policy misunderstands when and how children learn and that investments should come earlier and be better targeted.
"Learning begins in utero and never stops," Wohrey said, summarizing decades of developmental research during a Feb. 3 virtual presentation. He used the analogy of the obsolete 1992 USDA food pyramid to argue that commonly held assumptions about childcare have led to policies that are backward for families and children.
Wohrey described three core “truths” of early development: that learning begins before birth, that prenatal-to-3 is a uniquely…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
