Penny Owen

The Children's Storefront

The Children's Storefront is a first-of-its-kind, free playspace in Harlem that helps caregivers learn how to build their child's brain and support their healthy development. _______________________ The research is clear: back-and-forth interactions between caregivers and children in the first three years of life build the strongest foundation for brain growth and lifelong success, and responsive play is the best tool we have to build babies' brains. Yet this research often doesn't reach the parents who could use this information to support their children's growth and healthy development. The Children's Storefront has partnered with families in Harlem for over fifty years, and is laser-focused on bringing the power of interactive play to families. Our playspace model allows parents and children to learn together, with caregivers practicing the skills that spur brain development while receiving immediate feedback and support from early childhood specialists. Our program has a lasting impact on children, families, and communities. After only a few sessions, the bond between caregiver and child is strengthened and a healthy attachment is encouraged. Long-term, children who participate will have stronger language development, improved mental and physical health outcomes, better self-regulation, and greater success in school. Communities are transformed as the root cause of later-in-life issues such as homelessness, poverty, and substance use is addressed. Just as The Children's Storefront was on the cutting edge of tuition-free private education Harlem for decades, our commitment to the science of early childhood brain building places us at the forefront of the next revolution in childhood development.