Many years of research have shown that the parent-child dyad and the family environment - including all primary care providers - are the foundation for the well-being and healthy advancement of children. From birth, children learn and rely on parents and other caregivers in their lives to protect and care for them. The impact of parents can never be greater than during the first few years of life, when a child's brain is developing rapidly and when almost all of their experiences are built and shaped by parents and the home environment. Parents help children acquire and develop their knowledge and skills by creating a pathway for their health and well-being during childhood and beyond.