Researchers Won Yidan Prize for Childhood Program
Three scientists received the award for their work on an early childhood development initiative.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Education — General
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Researchers Susan P. Walker, Susan M. Chang-Lopez, and Sally Grantham-McGregor have been awarded the 2026 Yidan Prize for Education Development. The team received approximately US$3.8 million to expand their Reach Up program.
Why it matters
The team created the program to reduce inequalities stemming from childhood poverty and undernutrition through caregiver interaction. The interventions have shown long-term success in improving IQ scores, mental health, and adult earnings.
The Reach Up program currently operates in 21 countries and is scaling to serve 1.5 million children in Brazil. Participants in the study, which began in the 1980s, saw hourly wages increase by 43 per cent by age 31.
The players
Susan P. Walker
She is a lead researcher who helped develop the Reach Up early childhood intervention framework.
Susan M. Chang-Lopez
She is a scientist whose work focuses on addressing childhood undernutrition and developmental inequality.
Sally Grantham-McGregor
She is a researcher known for her pioneering work in long-term childhood development and nutrition studies.
The details
The Reach Up program teaches caregivers to play, talk, and interact with children using local songs, games, and daily routines. The funding from the US$3.8 million prize will support further expansion in Jamaica and the launch of a new study in Haiti.
Timeline
The original research study began in Jamaica during the 1980s.
Study participants earned 25 per cent more income by age 22.
Participants achieved 37 per cent higher overall earnings by age 31.
The researchers were awarded the Yidan Prize in 2026.
Culture Shift
The global education sector is increasingly moving toward evidence-based parenting support as a primary tool to mitigate poverty. The Reach Up early childhood programme represents the shift from institutionalized care to community-led intervention models.
The Reach Up methodology offers parents a structured, low-cost way to improve their child's long-term earning potential through daily interaction. Families in participating countries may see increased access to these resources as the program expands to more regions.
The takeaway
Early interventions focused on caregiver interaction can have profound, multi-decade impacts on an individual's economic success and health. Parents can replicate these benefits by incorporating consistent, intentional play and communication into daily routines.
Further reading
For more information on global educational development initiatives, visit Education — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jamaicans.
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