The Impact of Family Resilience in Promoting School Readiness for Children with Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse experiences in early childhood may directly and indirectly impact children's development, including their preparedness to learn in their preschool and kindergarten classes. However, like many other developmental processes, these skills can be supported through positive experiences and resources in a child's environment. This work uses the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health’s (NSCH) nationally representative preschool subsample (n = 7565) to provide an overview of the way adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact children’s school readiness skills. The four domains of school readiness considered are early learning skills, physical health/motor development, social-emotional skills, and self-regulation. Additionally, this work examines the ways in which family resilience can alter the relationship between ACEs and school readiness. Findings suggest that family resilience serves as a protective factor, buffering the impact of ACEs on early learning skills, social-emotional development, and self-regulation.