Early Childhood Development (ECD)

For every child, early moments matter

Challenges

Globally, over 43 per cent (approx. 250 million) of children under the age of 5 are at risk of not fulfilling their full developmental potential due to risks of poverty, poor nutrition and a lack of access to basic services and early enriching opportunities (lancet 2016).

Children who do not receive adequate health, nutrition, early stimulation, learning opportunities, care and protection, all identified as elements of ‘nurturing care’, tend to have lowered cognitive, language and psychosocial outcomes as well as executive functioning, which translates to lower academic achievement in primary school and, ultimately, dropping out of school.

It is estimated that globally 11 to 17 per cent of children are at risk of or have disabilities. According to the Pakistan National Nutrition Survey,14% of children aged 24–59 months had at least one functional difficulty: 1.8% had difficulty in seeing, 2.2% in hearing, 3.5% in walking, 5.3% in remembering, 10.2% in self-care and 6.5% in communication.^[1]

Solutions

ECD is essential for all children to achieve their full potential. Neuroscience offers compelling evidence that ECD is a critical opportunity to shape brain development and function.

Integrated ECD is a multi-sectoral and life course approach to childcare consisting of various components such as health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, early learning opportunities, child safety and protection, early stimulation, and positive parenting. Together, this help develops physical/ motor, cognitive/ mental, social, and emotional development.

Young children’s healthy development occurs as a result of interaction with a stable environment

Children require a stable environment that is:

                Sensitive to their Health,

                Supports their nutritional needs,

                Provides responsive caregiving,

                Provides safety and security, and

                Ensures opportunities for early learning

• The Nurturing Care Framework focuses on Pregnancy to 8 years of age

1. The duration of pregnancy and birth to 3 years of age ^[2] are the most sensitive periods for brain development
2. Parents/caretakers are the primary providers of nurturing care
3. Health and Nutrition sectors are uniquely positioned to provide support for the nurturing care
4. From age 3 onward (formal preschool settings) the Education sector plays a pivotal role
5. Child protection and WASH play a role in the security and safety component of nurturing care
6. Responsive caregiving requires the engagement of Gender, Social Policy and SBC as wellAddressing all the above components of the nurturing care framework will contribute to the child developing his or her potential and will survive and thrive and be a productive citizen of society.

ECD lays the foundation for a great nation

By UNICEF Pakistan