About Laura A. Jana (Edit profile)

Laura A. Jana, M.D., is a U.S.-based pediatrician, early educator, and award-winning author of over 30 children/parenting books, with a faculty appointment at Penn State University's prevention research center. Having first gained national recognition working with world-renowned pediatrician Benjamin Spock, she has over 20 years' experience working with parents, educators, media, academia, government organizations, non-profits, and corporations. From her longstanding role as an early literacy advocate and nine-year owner of a 200-student educational child care center, to her role as director of innovation in public health and media spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Jana is a social entrepreneur dedicated to addressing the most pressing needs of children, families, and communities. Her most recent books, "The Toddler Brain" and "Jumping Into Kindergarten," focus on the critical set of social-emotional and other skills needed to succeed in the 21st century, and their foundational development during the first 5 years.