early years

Dawn of life

Early years refers to the beginning period of something, most often childhood.

In education, early years typically means ages birth through about five or six—before formal schooling begins: She specialized in early years development.

The phrase also applies to the initial period of careers, relationships, or institutions: In the company's early years, we operated out of a garage.

Opposites
life stage chronology

early yearslater years

Period near life's end

old age · final years · adulthood · twilight years · late life

Family

early, year, years, earlier, yearly, earliest, yearling, year-round, midyear

Familiarity
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Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G