Steps Toward Peace and Violence Prevention Across Generations: The Potential of Early Child Development in the Context of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

This special issue of New Directions in Child and Adolescent Development features four review articles from authoritative leaders in the field. These articles highlight how far our field has come over the past five decades, as well as how much further effort is needed to refine, adapt, and implement - in a sustainable fashion - responsive parenting and nurturing care programs of proven value across the globe.

Unpacking the Impacts of a Universal Parenting Program on Child Behavior

“…A large body of research has shown that violence and maltreatment against children can be detrimental to children’s outcomes, especially in developing countries where a significant percentage of children are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential (Black et al, 2017; Leckman & Britto, 2018). In particular, exposure to physical punishment and other forms of household violence has been shown to predict a host of negative outcomes across the lifespan, including behavioral problems such as aggression, antisocial behavior, low self‐esteem, and mental health problems (Gershoff & Grogan‐Kaylor, 2016; Pinquart, 2017).…”

Supporting Child Development Through Parenting Interventions in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: An Updated Systematic Review

“…Finally, nurturing care interventions in LMICs have been mainly implemented in low-income populations and populations at risk for undernutrition and rarely in other adverse contexts, such as those affected by armed conflicts and forced migration. In recent years, researchers have brought attention to the value of nurturing care interventions in fragile and conflict contexts and their potential to reduce violence and promote peace (4,90). The Early Childhood Peace Consortium is one such innovative approach aimed at peacebuilding through investment in early child development (91).…”

“…In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), over 250 million children under age five are not achieving their developmental potential due to adverse living environments, such as chronic poverty, poor nutrition and sanitation, violence, and inadequate learning opportunities (1). As emphasized in multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, child development has been recognized as playing a key role in the long-term development and well-being of the society at large (2)(3)(4).…”

“…Despite the promising effect of parenting interventions that include psychosocial stimulation or responsive care on developmental outcomes of children in low-resource settings, the key factors contributing to and barriers preventing the success of the interventions are still not well-understood. It has been proposed that the intervention and implementation processes, such as the mode of delivery (i.e., home visits, group sessions, or clinic appointments) (1,(4)(5)(6); the sensitivity of the measures utilized to assess child developmental outcomes (3,4); the frequency of sessions and overall duration of the intervention (2,5); the curriculum characteristics, for example, the form of behavior change techniques used (1,2,4,6); the characteristics of the delivery agents (e.g., level and quality of training, being a part of existing service delivery systems) (2,4); and the fidelity and quality control measures in place (2,5) are likely important factors besides the content that account for the level of effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention. The characteristics of the target population, including caregivers' education status, household socioeconomic status, characteristics of children (e.g., age at enrolment), and caregivers' study setting (e.g., rural or urban) are also outlined among potential sources of variation in intervention effects (17,(19)(20)(21).…”

Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children (K-DST): development, applications, and implications for future early childhood development interventions

“…2) ECD serves as the foundation for sustainable development as it has a direct effect on the overall development of children and the adults they will become. 3) Thus, ensuring that every child develops to the maximum extent possible and achieves their full developmental potential through multi-disciplinary investments in ECD has been prioritized by governments and United Nations agencies including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization. 4,5) Developmental screening is a crucial component of ensuring ECD, as it allows the early identification of any abnormal neurodevelopmental process.…”