The paper encourages us to think beyond the traditional early childhood sector in policy and practice. It explores how the latest science, combined with the lived expertise of communities and fresh thinking across an array of policy domains, offers promising opportunities for re-shaping environmental influences so that all children can grow up in homes and neighborhoods free of hazards and rich with opportunity. Sections include: The physical environments where children live affect their development and health; The conditions of a place can have positive or negative influences on child health and development; Environmental exposures early in life can cause lasting changes in developing biological systems; Racism influences multiple dimensions of the natural and built environments that affect the foundations of child development and lifelong well-being; The timing of environmental experiences and exposures can influence both short- and long-term effects; Individuals respond differently to the physical environment, but there are clear patterns of risk that can inform universal action; Implications for new directions in policy. (author abstract)