Building brains, forging futures: the pediatrician's role

Recent leaps in the understanding of early brain growth and child development provide us with scientific underpinnings for strategies to improve child health outcomes. Genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors impact the growing child and have a profound impact on lifelong health and function. Recent advances in knowledge concerning the biologic underpinnings of brain development provide a better understanding upon which to base interventions. All growing children experience stress. However, if children are stressed in a manner that exceeds their coping capability, the stress is considered toxic. Toxic stress can impede the cognitive and social emotional growth of the developing brain. Pediatricians have the opportunity to intervene through screening for families at risk, supporting optimal parenting, and linking in a team fashion with other providers of care for young children to support development.