Child Development

Knowledge of child development is the foundation for work with children, and therefore is a requirement for all those seeking to protect children. It influences every aspect of a child from physical growth and mental abilities, to how they express emotions, think and behave.

Healthy development takes children through stages, whereby they obtain an increasing number of physical, mental, and emotional skills in order to become independent adults. These stages provide benchmarks for determining if a child is developing normally. Without knowledge of the normal developmental stages of a child, a worker cannot identify developmental delays, assess the impact of abuse, or make recommendations regarding the child’s physical, mental or emotional health. Understanding what a child is capable of allows adults to communicate on their level and provide age-appropriate responses and interventions.

Knowledge of early childhood development and attachment behaviour is particularly important for protection workers. The physical health and care a child experiences as an infant will affect their development into adulthood. A child needs to have experienced a positive attachment by the age of 3 in order to develop cognitively, physically, socially, and psychologically. Healthy attachments come from the close bond a child experiences when provided with the responsive and stable care of at least one adult. In a residential home, children are less likely to receive the amount of individual attention from a permanent caretaker that they require. Children under 12, in particular, benefit more from a kinship, foster or adoption placement where they can experience closer relationships.

Observation of a child’s attachment to caretakers will influence the type of care, permanency plan, and level of support services offered. It can also aid in the identification of abuse.

This section contains information on the importance of child development knowledge, guidance on the ages and stages of children, and attachment theory.

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Advancing the Early Childhood Care and Education Agenda: Inclusive Innovative Dialogue towards a Global Partnership Strategy

UNESCO Education Sector and ECDAN, 28 Jan 2021

This report summarizes the main findings of the High-Level Session on ‘Advancing the Early Childhood Agenda: High Level Session towards a Global Partnership Strategy’, organized by UNESCO.

Presupuesto por Resultados para el Desarrollo Infantil – El Caso de Perú

UNICEF, 17 Jan 2021

Este informe se presenta el caso de Perú y su proceso de elaboración de políticas para la primera infancia el cual cuenta con características particulares que son de interés para la Agenda Regional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Primera Infancia.

Collaboration of Child Protective Services and Early Childhood Educators: Enhancing the Well-Being of Children in Need

Karmen Toros, Keidy Tart & Asgeir Falch-Eriksen - Early Childhood Education Journal, 09 Jan 2021

This paper examines the role of interprofessional collaboration in the identification and reporting of a child in need.

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The science of love in childhood: Conversations with leading experts in childhood love, adversity and mental health

UNICEF, 04 Jan 2021

In this new series by UNICEF, Laura Mucha – author, poet and children’s advocate – interviews some of the world’s leading experts to find out why love is so important in childhood.

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The Nurturing Care Framework: Indicators for Measuring Responsive Care and Early Learning Activities

Elizabeth Hentschel, Aisha K. Yousafzai, Frances E. Aboud, 2021

Two new indicators for the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) have been developed in support of programme implementation. These indicators need to be validated before they can be recommended widely. Read the report to learn more about the proposed indicators.

First Years, First Priority: A Fair Start for Every Child in Europe

Eurochild, International Step by Step Association, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), and Roma Education Fund (REF), 2021

First Years First Priority is a Europe-wide campaign set up to advocate for prioritization of early childhood development in public policies, with a particular focus on families and children who are at greater risk of discrimination and exclusion. This briefing provides a description of the policy context in which the 'First Year, First Priority' campaign is launched.

Early Childhood Development: A Critical Investment

Aga Khan Foundation, 2021

This workshop draws upon content from the Nurturing Care Framework, the Science of Early Child Development and the Beginning of Life film, to walk participants through why investing in early childhood is so important, including scientific and economic evidence.

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Nurturing Care Handbook

World Health Organization (WHO), 2021

This handbook is part of a set of resources for implementing the Nurturing Care Framework.

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The State of the World’s Fathers 2021

Gary Barker, Aapta Garg, Brian Heilman, Nikki van der Gaag, and Rachel Mehaffey - Promundo-US, 2021

The State of the World’s Fathers 2021 report – the fourth in the series – presents research on care work during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on structural barriers that prevent equitable distribution of caregiving between women and men.

Working with Parents of Young Children

Aga Khan Foundation, 2021

This course is a resource for parents or those who work with parents of young children to support them to provide brain-building experiences and nurturing care.

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