10 facts about early child development as a social determinant of health

Fact 1

Addressing ECD means creating the conditions for children – from gestation to 8 years of age – to thrive in their physical, socio-emotional, and language/cognitive development.

Fact 2

Three critical elements of healthy child development: stable, responsive, and nurturing care-giving; safe, supportive, environments; and appropriate nutrition. These can be safeguarded through familiar best practices such as planned, safe pregnancy and childbirth; exclusive breast feeding in the first 6 months followed by an appropriate complementary feeding and responsive feeding; preventive interventions such as vaccines for the treatment of diseases; and protection from violence, neglect and abuse.

Fact 3

The brain develops most rapidly in the first few years of a child’s life. The ongoing interchange between genes and different environments – within which children are born, grow, learn and live – shapes the developing brain. During these critical years, the foundation is laid for a child’s physical and mental health, affecting everything from longevity to the lifelong capacity to learn, from the ability to adapt to change to the capacity for resilience against adverse circumstances.

Fact 4

Stable, caring, interactive relationships with adults – any way or any place they can be provided – will benefit healthy brain development of young children. Conversely, adverse early experiences – eg, unstable caregiving, deprivation of love or nutrition, and stresses associated with neglect and maltreatment – greatly increase the likelihood of poor health and development across the entire life course.

Fact 5

Safe, cohesive, child-centred neighbourhoods, communities, and villages matter for early child development greatly.

Fact 6

High quality early childhood care and education programs can improve children’s chances for success in later life. Investing in early interventions timed to take advantage of crucial phases of brain development is necessary for all children. In particular it can improve the lives of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and their families, with profound consequences for societies at large.

Fact 7

In order to improve the state of early child development, governments as well as the global communities need to continuously improve the conditions for families to nurture their children by addressing economic security, flexible work, information and support, health and quality childcare needs. 

Fact 8

Early child development is a cornerstone of human development and should be central to how we judge the successfulness of societies. 

Fact 9

Many in the international development community agree that child survival and child development are not in conflict 

Fact 10

Other attributes of environments influence ECD as well. Exposure to physical, biological, and chemical risks during a child’s early years can have significant, long-term, and adverse effects.

Original Source: Who.int

Nutcrackers Daycare Academy We are a family owned and operated academy that provides children with a strong foundation to begin their lives. Our teachers are highly trained and extremely attentive to support your child’s desire to explore and discover. Our passionate staff values the relationships we have with our families and work hard to involve them in all our activities and decisions. Our facility provides an openness inside and out for a child to feel free to explore, create, and learn in a safe, loving and developmentally appropriate environment. Contact at 713-842-7796.

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