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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Action for the Rights of the Child (ARC): Child Development

Save the Children Alliance, UNHCR, UNICEF and OHCHR, 2001

Training materials on the threats to children’s development from displacement and armed conflict and other emergency situations. It includes guidance on strategies to promote children’s development in adverse conditions.

Education in Emergencies and for Reconstruction: A Developmental Approach

Mary Joy Pigozzi, 1999

Outlines strategies for responding to education needs in communities affected by crisis or chronic instability. Includes a summary of UNICEF’s approach, some practical information on implementation, and an identification of areas where more work is needed.

Implications of attachment theory for child care policies

Michael Rutter & Thomas G. O'Connor - Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications, 1999

This chapter from the 'Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications' examines the connection between attachment theory and child care policies.

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Home Based Programmes for Early Childhood Care and Development

Robert Myers, 1987

A brief paper highlighting the benefits of using home-visits to support child development and child protection. It suggests that drawing on local resources (including para-professionals and community volunteers) to do the home-visits can be an effective method of supporting families and reducing program costs.

Early Childhood Care and Development Policy

Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs,

This policy document replaces various uncoordinated, sector-biased programmes developed and implemented by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, Ministry for Employment and Manpower Development, the Ministry of Health and, the Ghana National Commission on children and other Stakeholders.

A Guide to Toxic Stress

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University,

The Center on the Developing Child created this Guide to Toxic Stress to clear up the confusion and help you learn the facts about toxic stress step by step.

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Framing Child Development and Care in Australia: A Communications Toolkit

FrameWorks Institute,

This toolkit is designed to help communicators in the field to translate the science of early childhood development and mental health in the Australian context, in order to increase support for evidence-based programs and policies designed to improve child and social outcomes in Australia.

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The Brain Architects Podcast

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University,

From brain architecture to toxic stress to serve and return, The Brain Architects, a new podcast from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, focuses on the specific, practical questions that often arise for parents and caregivers during the critically important period of early childhood.

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Epigenetics and Child Development: How Children’s Experiences Affect Their Genes

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University,

This infographic explores how epigenetics relates to child development and how early experiences can have lifelong impacts.

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Estrés Tóxico y Resiliencia

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University,

Este video explica estrés tóxico y cosas que podemos hacer para defendernos a nosotros y a nuestros hijos de los efectos de incluso el estrés más intenso.

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