http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/19/opinion/parenting-101.html 2016-10-18 23:01:39 Parenting 101 The National Parenting Education Network discusses the need and the rewards. === To the Editor: Re “ Research has shown the need. The earliest years of a child’s life, when the brain is rapidly developing, are critical in healthy emotional, cognitive and physical development. Further, parents have the most important role in fostering such development during that period, but it arrives when they have the least experience and maturity as parents, and they often become anxious and confused by all the informal advice they receive. Evidence-based parenting education, which can be delivered in a variety of formats, produces more competent parents and provides substantial long-term return on investment in terms of healthier children, better education, and lower crime and drug use. Universal access to parenting education could result in significant human and financial cost savings for our country. MEG AKABAS New York The writer is chairwoman-elect of the National Parenting Education Network.