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What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures is a podcast from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (formerly known as The Brain Architects). This season, we explore how our understanding of early childhood development continues to evolve—and what that means for children, caregivers, and the systems that shape their lives. We take a close look at the relationships, communities, and broader conditions that influence how children live, grow, play, and learn, and share real examples and strategies for how communities and systems can work to create conditions that support children's and caregivers’ health and well-being. Subscribe now to What Shapes Us: Strong Foundations, Thriving Futures.

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  • 24 episodes
  • Avg 36 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S1 · E8
    Jan 29, 2025 · 15 min

    COVID-19 Special Edition: Domestic Violence and Shelter-In-Place

    Shelter-in-place orders are meant to help protect our communities from the current coronavirus pandemic. But for some people, home isn’t always a safe place. For those who are experiencing domestic violence, or believe they know someone one who is, what options are available to stay both physically healthy and safe from violence? In this fourth episode of our COVID-19 series of The Brain Architects, host Sally Pfitzer speaks with Dr. Tien Ung, Program Director for Impact and Learning at FUTURES without Violence. Prior to her work at FUTURES, Tien spent five years as the Director of Leadership and Programs at the Center on the Developing Child. Tien discusses important, practical steps those at home can take to keep themselves and their children safe, as well as strategies others can use if they think someone they know may be experiencing domestic violence. She also addresses the resilience of survivors, and what our communities can do both during and after COVID to listen to and engage in real responsive relationships with adults and children alike. A note on this episode: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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  • S1 · E9
    Jan 29, 2025 · 23 min

    COVID-19 Special Edition: Mental Health in a Locked-Down World

    While some countries and U.S. states are beginning to reopen businesses and other gathering places, the pandemic is still very much with us. Physical distancing will likely be a way of life until a vaccine for COVID-19 is widely available. So much change, including the threat of illness, and grief of those who have lost loved ones, means that mental health is a great concern. Fortunately, there are things we can do to support our mental health at this time, especially when caring for young children or other family members. In this episode of The Brain Architects, host Sally Pfitzer speaks with Dr. Karestan Koenen, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Dr. Archana Basu, Research Associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and a clinical psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. They discuss what supporting your own mental health can look like, as well as ways to support children you care for at this time. They also talk about what mental health professionals all over the world are doing to help take care of our societies in the midst of the pandemic, and how they’re preparing for the challenges that come next.

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E10
    Jan 29, 2025 · 38 min

    Connecting Health and Learning Part I: The Science

    How do our biological systems work together to respond to chronic stress? What do these responses mean for early learning and lifelong health? And when we say that early experiences matter, what do we mean by early? This episode of The Brain Architects podcast addresses all these questions and more!

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  • S1 · E11
    Jan 29, 2025 · 44 min

    Connecting Health and Learning Part II: The Implications

    How do we use the science of early childhood development to implement practical strategies and overcome longstanding barriers in the early childhood field? How can we ensure that families’ voices are heard when we create policies or programs? To kick off this episode, Center Director Dr. Jack Shonkoff describes what the science means for policymakers, system leaders, care providers, and caregivers. This is followed by a discussion among a distinguished panel of experts, including Cindy Mann (Manatt Health), Dr. Aaliyah Samuel (Northwest Evaluation Association), and Jane Witowski (Help Me Grow). The panelists discuss how we can break down the silos in the early childhood field, policies affecting prenatal-three, and how policies can change to address the stressors inflicted by poverty, community violence, and racism.

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Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes