Investing in Early Childhood Development: Essential Interventions, Family Contexts, and Broader Policies

Abstract

Access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education is essential for child development and is now recognized as a priority under the Sustainable Development Goals. Investments in early childhood development by major donors have been rising rapidly in recent years. This makes the task of understanding better what works to promote early childhood development, and what may not work as well, a priority. The objective of this special issue of the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities is to contribute to the evidence base in three areas-the roles of program interventions, family contexts, and broader policies in ensuring optimal child development. The issue consists of five research articles, most of which provide evaluations of specific interventions, as well as three shorter notes considering broader policy issues. The main conclusions of the various contributions are summarized in this article together with a brief introduction to simple conceptual frameworks that countries, donors, and other stakeholders may find useful when considering alternative ways to invest in early childhood development.

Maximizing Child Development: Three Principles for Policy-makers

“…With the increase in impact evaluations, studying the effect of early childhood development interventions in low and middle income countries (including Diazgrandos et al, 2016;and Dowd et al 2016 in this special issue of the journal), it may be difficult for policy makers to synthesize this large body of evidence and determine which efforts to prioritize. The purpose of this brief is to give guidance to policy makers to improve the likelihood that early childhood investments benefit society and help break the intergenerational transmission of poverty (Young and Richardson 2007;Heckman and others 2013;Young 1996;Young 2002;Schweinhart 2007;Smith 2009;Duncan and others 2007), as well as the introduction to this special issue by Wodon (2016). The benefits in relation to schooling and earnings can persist into later life, but have not always been sustained (IEG 2015).…”

Developmental delay and its associated factors among children under five years in urban slums of Nepal

“…The early childhood phase has been identified as the most effective and cost-efficient period to ensure that all children develop their full potential [ 23 , 24 ]. Also, early childhood investments are claimed to have substantial benefits of preventing disease and promoting health in the long run [ 25 ].…”

Cooperative Relationship between Teachers and Parents: Develop Learning Ability for Primary School Students during the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…The family is the closest environment to students, the first place of education for children is in the family (Burns et al, 2020;Jiménez & Estévez, 2017). Family has a very important role in developing learning abilities in children (Wodon, 2016). A harmonious relationship between families is the key to help the process of one's education going smoothly.…”