Early Childhood Development week: learning helps young ones reach their full potential

国产视频’s #5for5 campaign has been calling for countries to invest in early childhood development – including nutrition, health, learning, play and protection. 90% of a child国产视频檚 brain is developed by the time they are five years old, which means the early years are crucial.聽

This week, in our special Early Childhood Development Week, supported by Conrad N Hilton Foundation, we take a look at each of the five key areas of nurturing care, bringing you a snapshot of why it国产视频檚 important and what world leaders are doing to give children in developing countries a better chance of a prosperous life.聽

Learning

We learn more things in the first five years of our lives than at any other time 国产视频� as our brains are 90% developed by then. That国产视频檚 why it国产视频檚 crucial that under-fives have access to early childhood education during these tender years. In fact, we actually start learning in the womb.

What国产视频檚 happening?

There is much “active国产视频� learning in the developed world but developing countries don国产视频檛 have the same resources to put early education in the spotlight.聽Governments and charities are beginning to target the development of the under-fives – realising that by getting the foundations right in the early years can produce a more educated population and a more prosperous economy. But the developing world is playing catch-up 国产视频� which puts many children born there at a distinct disadvantage.

Why is it important?

国产视频淟earning starts before we are born and keeps going,” said Dr Eva Lloyd, Professor of Early Childhood at the Cass School of Education and Communities, University of East London. “Children, especially in the early years, are like little sponges, absorbing all the information around them and then actively making sense of it.”聽

Professor Lloyd reviewed research on the impact on children国产视频檚 learning in refugee camps and in areas of conflict. While being realistic, she remains hopeful that little ones being raised in conflicts can still reach their potential.

• Why nutrition is vital for young children’s bodies and minds
• How small steps can help prevent millions of baby deaths
• Play teaches so many vital life skills

What needs to be done?

More focus needs to be put on to pre-school education and learning, along with more money being spent supporting parents to encourage children to go to pre-school and pre-primary.

国产视频淧articipation in good-quality pre-primary programmes has been shown to have beneficial effects on the cognitive development of children and their longevity in the school system,” reported the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institute.聽“Yet despite gains, enrolment remains woefully inadequate in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa.国产视频澛�

What is being done?

One example of hope and success is Cuba. It国产视频檚 not just the Cuban government which has stepped up 国产视频� families are also a major reason why young children are being so well supported.聽聽

More than 99.5% of young Cuban children go to a nursery – and almost 900,000 children under six attend a learning facility, according to the education ministry.

Richard Paterson, Cuba director for the international charity CARE,聽said: 国产视频淭here is an important cultural element to a child国产视频檚 upbringing in Cuba.聽As in much of Latin America, the entire family plays an important part in a child国产视频檚 development, and with multiple generations under the same roof, this engagement and support occurs on a daily basis.”

Learning fact

It is often the most deprived children who miss out on access to preschool and other early learning opportunities involving toys, books and聽interactive engagement with adults and peers.聽An estimated 43%聽of under-fives 国产视频� that’s 249 million children 国产视频� are at risk of missing critical development聽milestones, according to UNICEF.