Rob Reiner has been hard at work. But you won't find this filmmaker's latest creation on the big screen. In 1997, Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, founded the I Am Your Child campaign to raise public awareness about how pivotal the first three years of life are to a child's continued development. Since then, he has lobbied relentlessly for legislation to bring social services to pregnant women and young children in need. He has also enlisted a powerful group of celebrities, experts, corporations, and national organizations to help get the word out.
We spoke with Reiner about his campaign, his commitment, and what he thinks it takes to raise healthy, happy, smart kids.

FEN: What drove you to put your film work on hold and start the I Am Your Child campaign?

Reiner: I went through a tough time almost 20 years ago. Through therapy, it became very clear to me that my early relationship with my parents had a profound effect on me - there was a real connection between my early years and how I was functioning as an adult. When the Carnegie Corporation's Starting Points report on meeting the needs of young children came out in 1994, I discovered that this connection was backed up by hard science.

FEN: Your campaign is based on research about how children's brains develop. What part of this research do you find most fascinating?

Reiner: When you nurture a child with affection and touch, and when you talk, read, and sing to a child, you're physiologically causing brain connections. It's not just some kind of "touchy-feely thing." In the absence of those nurturing experiences, you have children whose brains don't make those connections. To me, that's astounding. It's not just that kids from deprived homes have it bad - their brains actually don't grow as well!

FEN: How can we make sure that kids get the nurturing they need?

Reiner: We've got to move policymakers to understand that if we're ever going to affect social outcomes, we must make an investment early on - from the prenatal period throughout the first three years of life. It has not been done in the history of this country, and it's about time we start.

FET: Are you talking about parent education?

Reiner: Yes. We need to reach women and men before their children are born. We need to increase parents' awareness and help them understand and be comfortable with who they are so they can properly nurture their children.

FEN: Do you think that you're reaching the audience that really needs to hear the message?

Reiner: We're starting to. The I Am Your Child campaign is affiliated with 154 national organizations. All of these various groups have outreach programs, but it's a slow process. We still need to spring some funds loose to penetrate the communities.

FEN: Why are you so committed to this cause?

Reiner: Here I see something so clearly that can change social outcome and solve problems. I have access to the media and the ability to do something about it. If I didn't do anything, it would be kind of ... criminal. I'd be negligent.

Resources: To learn more about the I Am Your Child campaign , visit http://iamyourchild.org/. Or call 888-447-3400 to request a free consumer information kit.