Table of contents

Brain Development

Overview

1. Early brain development

1.1 Brain architecture

1.2 Experience-based brain development

Research

2. Early brain development research

2.1A Genes and environments

2.1B Prenatal brain development

2.2 Nurturing

2.3 Stress

2.4 Memory

2.5 The social brain

Links to practice

3. Practices for healthy brain development

3.1 Advancing maternal and prenatal health

3.2 Observing children’s development

3.3 Caring through everyday experience

Coping and Competence

Overview

1. Coping and competence

1.1 Self-regulation

1.2 Individual differences

Research

2. Coping and competence research

2.1 Early regulatory systems

2.2 Family relationships 

2.3 Emotional learning

2.4 Executive function

2.5 Adversity and resilience

2.6 Play, coping and competence

Links to practice

3. Supports for coping and competence

3.1 Understanding feelings and behaviour

3.2 Getting along with others

3.3 Valuing play

Communicating and Learning

Overview

1. Communicating and learning in early childhood

1.1 Acquiring language

1.2 Thinking and learning

Research

2. Communicating and learning research

2.1 Early language development

2.2 Bilingualism and multilingualism

2.3 Literacy

2.4 Early mathematics

2.5 How children learn

Links to practice

3. Opportunities for communicating and learning

3.1 Guiding and teaching

3.2 Planning environments for learning

3.3 Creating curriculum

The Ecology of Childhood

Overview

1. Ecology of childhood

1.1 Contexts

1.2 Children’s rights

Research

2. Ecology of childhood research

2.1 Families

2.2 Early childhood education

2.3 Early intervention

2.4 Integrated early childhood programs

2.5 Neighbourhoods and communities

Links to practice

3. Strengthening environments for children

3.1 Sustaining home life

3.2 Strengthening early child development programs

3.3 Creating child and family friendly communities

Developmental Health

Overview

1. The developmental health perspective

1.1 Shaping life course trajectories

1.2 Growing up in poverty

Research

2. Developmental health research

2.1 The social determinants of health, learning and behaviour

2.2 The socio-economic impact of early childhood education and care

2.3 Monitoring early child development

2.4 Scaling early child development programs

Links to practice

3. Supporting developmental health

3.1 Advocating for early child development

3.2 Shaping public policies

3.3 A global agenda

Additional SECD information