3.3 A global agenda
What is one of the best ways a country can boost shared prosperity, promote inclusive economic growth, expand equitable opportunity, and end extreme poverty? The answer is simple: Invest in early childhood development” (Nurturing Care for Early Childhood development, 2018, p. 1).
Throughout SECD and notably, this module, the key message that social inequities early in life have far-reaching impact has been reinforced. Yet, it has also been shown that early child development services and programs can have profound long-term effects improving the conditions in the early years. Video examples of effective early child development services and programs from different regions around the world have shown how they are making a difference in the lives of children and ultimately on the development of families, communities and, indeed, societies.
We have heard and read that now that we clearly know why early childhood experiences, especially nurturing care, make a difference, we need to plan for how nations are going to work, individually and together, to make things better.
Since the Sustainable Development Goals were announced in 2015, there have been great strides made internationally in terms of advocacy and awareness. One key initiative that helped further the global agenda was the 2016 Lancet series. Two years after the Lancet series, the Nurturing Care Framework for Early Child Development was launched, in May 2018. Read the Executive Summary and explore the website for more information.
How does the information in the reading relate to the needs of children and families where you live?
The definition of nurturing care in the document is quite broad. Do you think most people/agencies think this way or are they more focused on the aspects that are relevant to their work?
The Nurturing Care Framework is about providing an evidence-based roadmap for action. How could you use this in advocacy or awareness raising activities in your context?
Why is a “whole of society” approach important?
In several counties in Kenya and Mozambique, government has been working with NGOs to integrate early child development practices into their health care systems, in order to improve outcomes for children. The next video explains this progressive approach.
How does this example illustrate the strategies recommended in the Nurturing Care Framework?
How is it relevant to you?
How do you get health care providers to achieve the value added to basic health care – not just an “interesting add-on”?
Why do you think these programs are being recommended by many researchers and advocates?
In 2014, a Neuroscience symposium organized by UNICEF brought together international experts to synthesize the impact of experiences and environmental conditions on brain development. The following reading is an overview of the findings presented. It reviews programming suggestions in the areas of nutrition, protection, learning, health and parenting. It also has strong advocacy messages that can be used to further the work done in communities around the world. As we close this module on Developmental Health, it brings us back to the beginning – by looking at brain development research findings as the impetus for adopting programs and policies that will ensure all children have a strong start in life.
Although there are widely varying contexts, at the same time there are many similarities in childhood. If you observe young children playing freely outside – whether you are in Canada, China, Mexico, Mozambique or Bangladesh – you will see similar scenes of high energy play, laughter, risk taking, and children challenging themselves and each other. The final video is a joyful montage of children from many different parts of the world, playing outdoors in school playgrounds and parks.
You have reached the end of the Developmental Health Module.
