From birth, children need care and support that promotes their intellectual and emotional development. During the first three years of life, 700 new connections form every second in the young brain (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard). These connections set the foundation for all later cognitive development and skills. In early childhood, parents, caregivers and ECD programs are key partners in helping children develop social, verbal and motor skills that prepare them for life and learning.
Programs can build awareness of the importance of early childhood development and support parents and caregivers with training through home-based care programs, community crèches and integrated programs such as mother and child health services.
Children learn and develop extremely rapidly during early childhood. Their development depends on a number of key factors, including health, education, stimulation and interaction. Early education and development programs are particularly important for improving school readiness and socioeconomic growth, especially for girls. Interventions at this stage have great benefits including:
- Higher intelligence scores
- Higher and timelier school enrollment
- Less frequent grade repetition and lower dropout rates
- Higher school completion rates
- Improved nutrition and health status
- Improved social and emotional behavior
- Improved parent-child relationships
- Increased earning potential and economic self-sufficiency as an adult
- Increased female labor force participation
Early childhood development programs may be particularly important for HIV-infected children. Research indicates that HIV infection is associated with cognitive impairment in children, as a result of direct and indirect effects of the virus on the developing brain. HIV-affected and -infected children face developmental delays in addition to central nervous system damage. These programs should be linked to child survival and PMTCT programs in all areas and should be a major priority in areas with a high prevalence of HIV.