MONTRÉAL — A new report from an organization that studies early childhood suggests that investing in the well-being of young children will save the public money in the long term. The report published by the Observatoire des tout-petits suggests that investing in pregnant women and children aged five and under helps to reduce later costs associated with school dropouts and health-care needs. As an example, it notes that low birth weight poses a risk to a child’s health, but is also associated with suboptimal brain development and a higher likelihood of learning delays. Data from Quebec’s statistics institute shows the proportion of five-year-olds in kindergarten who are developmentally vulnerable rose from 25.6 per cent in 2012 to 28.7 per cent in 2022. The report finds that being developmentally vulnerable in kindergarten can ultimately increase the likelihood of repeating a grade or dropping out of school. A study by economist Frédéric Laurin of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières estimated the annual cost of school dropout at $29,050 per student, which amounted to $13.8 billion in 2024. “The delays and difficulties children experience won’t just go away. In fact, they’ll snowball,” said Julie Meloche, chair of the board of directors of the Observatoire des tout-petits. That could mean a greater use of health and social services down the line, she said. “It could mean a young child who is less prepared for their educational journey upon entering school … and the need for speech therapy and remedial education services.” In Quebec, in 2023—2024, the rate of high school students leaving school without a diploma or qualification was 14.2 per cent. Meloche said that areas of development — such as social skills, cognitive and language development, emotional maturity and health development — have an impact on a child’s subsequent academic journey. “Our aim with the report is to say: if we make adequate investments, the money we won’t need to spend on remedial care later on becomes money we can invest elsewhere,” she said. Meloche is enthusiastic about the Quebec government’s new strategy aimed at better protecting vulnerable children. Developed by health-care agency Santé Québec and the province’s youth protection system, the initiative promises to offer better services and early intervention plans for families who are struggling, including programs that are better adapted to different cultures and backgrounds. While the initiative is “extraordinary,” Meloche said the challenge will be in the implementation. “Generally speaking, that’s often where it gets a little more difficult — especially because there are tough choices to make,” she said. She also noted that funding alone is not enough. The report said that “equitable access to resources and services starting in early childhood helps ensure that everyone has the same opportunities to succeed and improves their well-being.” The observatory is non-partisan, but it would like to see political parties discuss early childhood during the election campaign. The Canadian Press
