While the link between schooling and health has been well established, the direct and indirect effects of early childhood education programs on health have recently become a more substantial focus of research. This brief summarizes the research evidence, organized by three theoretical models that explain how early childhood education and development (ECED) programs can affect health, in both the long and short term (See Figure 1).2 These models are sufficiently general that they apply to children and families in both developed and developing nations. The authors then apply these models and the empirical evidence to derive broad recommendations for early childhood policy. They include: (1) Increase access to high quality early care and education programs for all children, prioritizing the most economically and educationally disadvantaged children; (2) Beginning parenting education early in pregnancy with the degree of support based on risk of poor health and developmental outcomes; (3) Providing screenings and referrals for health, dental, mental health, developmental, vision, and hearing in early care and education programs or facilitate access to these services through other means; (4) Inclusion of health, physical activity, and development of healthy eating habits in early education curriculum, as such habits are formed at an early age; (5) Including supports for children's social-emotional development, including self-regulation, preschool curriculum in order to reduce future risky behavior;and (6) Support of more health-related early education research.