No Small Matter Parent Guide

Decades of research into child development tell us that the first five years of life are the most important for brain development. In spite of that, early childhood education continues to be underfunded and families struggle to find high quality childcare and education options. No Small Matter explores this issue in America using current research and statistics, stories from real families, and interviews with leading experts in neuroscience, child development, and education.

I used to be an early childhood educator. I studied it in college, received specialized training in infant and child mental health, and worked in the childcare field for about 5 years. I loved it immensely, but I left because the pay was not worth the time and effort I was putting into it. This is an issue that I am passionate about, that has affected my life personally, and one that I have some level of expertise in. Watching No Small Matter made me miss my old job and reminded me why I used to advocate for it. Early childhood education is hugely important for the success of families, communities, and countries, but no one is talking about it.

This documentary is American, so it focuses on statistics and organizations from the US. Even so, most of the points made by the film are applicable to all countries. The subject matter is especially poignant now as governments are starting to grapple with police and prison reforms in the wake of widespread protests. As the documentary points out, if we invest heavily in early childhood, we won’t have to invest in prisons later.

I found this production to be informative, while also providing some solutions to the problems it discusses. It’s not the flashiest documentary I’ve ever seen, but the information is well laid out and easily digestible for people who don’t have a background in the subject. I highly recommend No Small Matter for all parents and teachers, as this is a topic that profoundly affects all of us who have or work with children - and there is a surprise visit from Cookie Monster!