The first 1,000 days of a child’s Life are Crucial – there’s Growing Evidence that the next 1,000 are just as Important
Source: https://theconversation.com/
The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to their second birthday, are crucial for their development. Expectant mothers require proper antenatal care to ensure their physical and mental well-being, which increases the chances of a healthy baby and successful nurturing in the early years. Research shows that experiences during this period have long-lasting effects on a person’s health, growth, and overall well-being.
The “next 1,000 days” ages 2 to 5 are also a critical period for child development, though it has received less attention than the first 1,000 days. This stage provides opportunities to build on earlier investments or help children who missed out on early support to get back on track, ensuring they are prepared for school and a healthy future. The Lancet recently launched a series of papers on these years, updating earlier research from 2007, 2011, and 2016. Led by a public health expert, the series focuses on the latest evidence, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The goal was to highlight key evidence on the “next 1,000 days” (ages 2-5) by examining its importance, the factors influencing development, effective programs, areas where children are falling behind, and the costs of not investing. A range of factors shape development during this period, including physical health, nutrition, parenting, developmental delays, exposure to violence, caregiver mental health, father involvement, early childhood care, and environmental factors like pollution and climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of these risks, making it even more critical to address them.
Between ages 2 and 5, children make rapid progress in cognitive, social, emotional, motor, language, and numeracy skills. These developments occur at varying rates for each child, but promoting growth in these areas lays the foundation for health, development, and education. The quality of care in five key areas—health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and early learning shapes children’s developmental paths. This nurturing care is essential for children to thrive, and policies and programs can guide their growth, as shown in related developmental outcomes.
A previous Lancet series estimated that 250 million children under 5 in lower- and middle-income countries were at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. More recent data shows that only 62 million children aged 3 and 4 (25%) in these countries receive the necessary care, leaving 182 million at risk. Care access varies widely by region, with sub-Saharan Africa at just 7.9% and Europe and Central Asia at 68%.
Less than one in three children in these countries receive developmental stimulation or protection from physical punishment, and only 39% have access to early childhood care programs. Children with early learning support and responsive care are about two years ahead in development.
Most early childhood development programs are concentrated in high-income Western countries, with only 5% in low-income regions, highlighting a mismatch in where programs are most needed and where they are implemented. This underrepresentation in research and publication has been criticized, and further action is needed to address this disparity.
The Lancet series outlines key recommendations for improving early childhood development across sectors like health, early learning, child protection, and social welfare. First, these sectors must collaborate rather than operate in isolation. Second, programs should focus not only on mitigating risks (e.g., preventing violence) but also on promoting protective factors, such as parental mental well-being. Third, programs must be of high quality and contextually relevant. Lastly, ensuring equity and inclusion is essential, with a focus on reaching the most vulnerable children with equally high-quality programs.
There is increasing evidence that programs targeting children in the “next 1,000 days” offer both short- and long-term benefits. These programs, including high-quality early childhood education, parental education, cash transfers, and nutrition interventions, work best when combined.
While the cost of providing early childhood education varies by country, it is generally low relative to national incomes. In low- and middle-income countries, the cost of one year of early childhood care for all children in this age group is estimated to be less than 1% of GDP, with benefits averaging 8-19 times greater than the cost of implementing these programs.
Image Source: https://theconversation.com/
