What is meant by Early Child Development?
Early child development (ECD) is a catch-all term typically used to refer to the development of cognitive abilities, language skills, motor functions and behavioural regulation during early childhood. Early childhood refers to the period between birth and the child's second birthday and represents the latter two-thirds of the first 1000 days of life.
Why is ECD a global problem?
It is well established that children who have delays in achieving developmental skills during early childhood have more problems in school, with relationships with peers and intimate partners, and with employment opportunities as adults. As adults, they also have higher rates of cardiovascular, mental health and substance-abuse related problems.
An estimated 250 million children younger than 5 years in low-income and middle-income countries are at risk of falling short of their potential because of adversities they face in their early, formative years (Chan et al, 2016).
Helping these children reach their full developmental potential by investing in ECD —and developing their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social capacities—will benefit not only them but the communities and societies within which they live. Children are the drivers of the societies of the future. Failing to make such investments to improve their developmental outcomes will not only have downstream effects on their education, health and social outcomes during later life but will have wide-reaching implications for their families and societies through exacerbating inequalities and deepening societal divisions(Chan et al, 2016).
An estimated 250 million children younger than 5 years in low-income and middle-income countries are at risk of falling short of their potential because of adversities they face in their early, formative years (Chan et al, 2016).
Helping these children reach their full developmental potential by investing in ECD —and developing their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social capacities—will benefit not only them but the communities and societies within which they live. Children are the drivers of the societies of the future. Failing to make such investments to improve their developmental outcomes will not only have downstream effects on their education, health and social outcomes during later life but will have wide-reaching implications for their families and societies through exacerbating inequalities and deepening societal divisions(Chan et al, 2016).
"When it comes to early childhood development, the cost of inaction is high."
- Dr Margaret Chan
Director General of the World Health Organisation between 2007 and 2017
What makes children's brains special?
- The birth-to-three period is the fastest rate of brain development across the entire human life span: a newborn brain grows 3 times its size in the first year.
- An adult brain uses 20% of blood glucose. A baby's brain uses as much as 60% of blood glucose.
- By the time they are 3 years, children’s brains have formed 1000 trillion connections between neurons and has reached 80% of its adult size. By the age of 5 years, the brain reaches 90% of its adult size.
- During the first year of life, the brain makes at least one million new neural connections every second, far more than at any other time in life.
- These brain connections are formed through a child’s everyday experiences with the people and environment around them. The amount and quality of care, stimulation and interaction they receive in early childhood determines which brain connections develop and lasts for a lifetime.
- All caregivers who are a part of a child’s life impact his/her brain development.
- After the first 3 years, the brain begins to fine-tune itself through a process called pruning. Here, its all about use it or lose it - connections that are used more often become stronger, while those that are not used are eventually eliminated.
- If babies’ bodies grew at the same rapid pace as their brains, they would weigh 170 pounds by one month of age.