ECD

COVID-19 icon Support maternal and newborn health icon Emergency humanitarian assistance icon ECD icon Knowledge exchange icon, COVID-19 and Desert Locust Response: 2020-2021, A girl eats Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), as part of treatment for malnutrition at the Mama Mwilu Health Centre, Kananga, Kasai-Occidental province, Democratic Republic of the Congo., Mitigation of Nutritional Consequences of COVID-19 and Desert Locust in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more than 4 million children and women were at risk of acute malnutrition in 2020. The situation is exacerbated by longstanding food insecurity and militia violence. The country is also facing multiple deadly epidemics including measles, Ebola and cholera. In South Sudan, 1.3 million children under 5…, Fighting COVID-19 by Providing Health and Nutrition Services to Women and Children in Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal: 2020-2021, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal vary in terms of social and economic development, but they share many conditions and difficulties, including high under-five mortality rates, poor nutrition results, and insufficient access to maternal, newborn and child health services. In Cameroon, 25 per cent of under-five deaths occur during the neonatal…, Maternal and Newborn Child Health Support, Community health worker, Tambudzai Vumisai, checks a five-month-old boy, Prosper Maidle, for signs of malnutrition in Nyahode, Zimbabwe., Projects to Improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Eight African Countries: 2020, UNICEF is working with government partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Zimbabwe, with support from the China International Development Agency (CIDCA) and the International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center (IHECC), National Health Commission of China. Over the past three…, Emergency Response, Projects to Provide Humanitarian Assistance for Populations Impacted by Cyclone Idai in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe: 2020, Cyclone Idai, which hit in March 2019, was the worst natural disaster in Southern Africa in nearly two decades. The cyclone affected 270,000 people and left 129,600 children in need of life-saving support. UNICEF has been running three projects to help affected people in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe recover, in partnership with CIDCA and…, Life-Saving Emergency Assistance to Girls, Boys and Women Affected by Severe Acute Malnutrition in Somalia; Assisting Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon, The humanitarian crisis in Somalia in 2017, which was triggered by the failure of consecutive rainy seasons, led to massive displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. Half of the country’s population – 6.2 million people – were left in need of humanitarian assistance, some 4 million of them children. In Lebanon, Syrian refugee children and…, Early Childhood Development, Cambodian preschool children safely returned to school during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the water, sanitation and hygiene supplies provided with support from China., COVID-19 Response and Recovery for Early Childhood Development in Cambodia: 2020-2021, As COVID-19 hit Cambodia, young children, particularly those under 5 years of age and from remote and rural communities, lack understanding of personal hygiene and struggle to continue their studies under social distancing measures. Parents are under stress due to school closures and financial pressure. Community preschools, which are key to…, Early Childhood Development in the Face of COVID-19 in Myanmar: 2020-2021, As the COVID-19 pandemic hit Myanmar, children in the country, especially those under 8 years of age, are being impacted by the closure of early childhood development institutions and schools. As Myanmar’s public health system is stretched thin, medical workers are finding it difficult to care for their young children at home. Their households and…, Knowledge Exchange, Testing the use of drones in search and rescue operations, Kazakhstan., The China-Sierra Leone-UNICEF COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control Knowledge Sharing and Experience Exchange Conference: August 2020, UNICEF Sierra Leone, UNICEF China, the China NGO Network for International Exchanges and representatives from civil society organizations from China and Sierra Leone took part in this event. Civil society organizations play a vital role in communicating risks and engaging with communities to help mitigate COVID-19 and create world fit for children…, Kazakhstan-China Exchange on Emergency Management and Disaster Reduction in the Best Interests of Children, UNICEF Kazakhstan, UNICEF China, the National Disaster Reduction Center of China (NDRCC), Kazakhstan’s Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR), and Kazakhstan’s Emergency Committee took part in this event. Both China and Kazakhstan – like many countries around the world – are not spared from natural disasters that…, National Pathways to Child Poverty Reduction under the 10 th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference, UNICEF, International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC), China’s State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), and delegates from seven African countries took part in this event. Africa’s burgeoning population (home to one billion children and more than 40 per cent of the world’s children by 2058)…

The Science of Early Child Development (SECD) is a knowledge mobilization initiative designed to make current research accessible to anyone interested in learning more about the profound impact of the early years on lifelong health and well-being. Beginning as a tool to help share the emerging science about early brain development and its…

Beijing, 24 June 2019 – This June, for UNICEF’s first-ever global Parenting Month, we are celebrating caregivers for all that they do and are recognizing that the earliest years with children are chaotic and crazy, joyful, messy and rewarding all at once. Instead of striving for ‘perfect moments’ or trying to be the ‘perfect parent’, UNICEF…

Mental Health, Early Childhood Development, Parenting, Breastfeeding

Speak baby talk. Baby talk may sound silly to you, but not to your child! In the first 1,000 days, your baby’s brain develops at a pace never repeated again. Baby talk helps give your child the best start in life. Baby talk is much more than just a silly and cute way of talking to babies. Actually, baby talk is more about how we say things. When…, Why is baby talk important?, Parents should immerse their babies in speech. Listening to more baby talk helps babies build their own language abilities. Baby talk works like a spotlight – babies hear a lot of sounds around them. But when they hear baby talk, they know that it’s time to start listening and paying attention. This happens for two reasons: First, baby talk is…, When should I use baby talk?, When we see a baby, most of us instinctively use baby talk. But it still does not come naturally to everyone. Parents should start practising baby talk from early on so they can learn what type of baby talk to use. The best time to practise baby talk is when you engage in daily routines with your baby. For example, when you’re feeding, bathing or…

What are vaccines?, Vaccines are products that are usually given in childhood to protect against serious, often deadly diseases. By stimulating your body’s natural defenses, they prepare your body to fight the disease faster and more effectively., How do vaccines work?, Vaccines help your immune system fight infections more efficiently by sparking your immune response to specific diseases. Then, if the virus or bacteria ever invades your body in the future, your immune system will already know how to fight it., Are vaccines safe?, Vaccines are very safe. Your child is far more likely to be hurt by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine. All vaccines go through rigorous safety testing, including clinical trials, before they are approved for the public. Countries will only register and distribute vaccines that meet rigorous quality and safety standards., Why should I vaccinate my child?, Vaccines save lives. Measles vaccines alone are estimated to have prevented over 21 million deaths between 2000 and 2017. Vaccines will help protect your child against diseases that can cause serious harm or death, especially in people with developing immune systems like infants. It’s important to vaccinate your child. If not, highly contagious…, Can my baby handle all of these vaccines?, Yes. Many parents worry that multiple vaccines will overload their child’s immune system. But children are exposed to hundreds of germs every day. In fact, a common cold or sore throat will put a greater burden on your child’s immune system than vaccines., But these diseases are not present in my community. Do I still need to vaccinate my child?, Yes. Although the diseases may be eliminated in your country or region, our increasingly interconnected world means that these diseases could spread from areas where they are still present., What is herd immunity?, If enough people in your community are immunized against a certain disease, you can reach something called herd immunity. When this happens, diseases can’t spread easily from person to person because most people are immune. This provides a layer of protection against the disease even for those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants. Herd…, Can a vaccine cause my baby to get sick?, Vaccines are extremely safe. Almost all sickness or discomfort after vaccination is minor and temporary, such as a soreness at the injection site or mild fever. These can often be controlled by taking over-the-counter pain medication after vaccination. There is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism., What diseases do vaccines prevent?, Vaccines protect your child against serious illnesses like polio, which can cause paralysis; measles, which can cause brain swelling and blindness; and tetanus, which can cause painful muscle contractions and difficulty eating and breathing, especially in newborns., Can I delay the vaccine schedule?, One of the best ways you can protect your child is to follow the recommended vaccine schedule in your country. Any time you delay a vaccine, you’re increasing your child’s vulnerability to disease., Can I let my child get the chickenpox instead of getting the vaccine?, Although chickenpox is a mild disease that many parents will remember from childhood (the vaccine was introduced in 1995), some children will develop serious cases with complications that can be fatal or cause permanent disabilities. The vaccine eliminates the risk of complications from the disease, and prevents children from infecting their…, What is the recommended vaccine schedule?, Immunization schedules vary by country depending on which diseases are most prevalent. You can find an overview of the recommended vaccines and approximate dates from your local health centre, doctor or your government’s Ministry of Health.

Breastfeeding is not just about food. It’s part of a nurturing care package that helps children to grow and thrive throughout their entire lives. Based on the scientific evidence linked to the lifelong benefits of breastfeeding, UNICEF and WHO recommend that babies are exclusively breastfeed for six months, starting immediately after birth, and…

With every hug and every kiss, with every nutritious meal and game you play, you’re helping to build your baby’s brain. Did you know that up to 75 per cent of each meal goes to build your baby's brain? Or that over 80 per cent of your baby’s brain is formed by the age of 3? * *  Sources: Steen, The Evolving Brain: The Known and The Unknown, 2007; …, Here are some tips to help give your child the best start in life:, Parenting tips for newborns, Did you know? Within a few days, babies can start smiling when people smile at them. Provide ways for your baby to see, hear, move freely and touch you. While your baby’s movement will be jerky in the beginning, she/he will eventually learn how to control her/his movements. Look into your baby’s eyes and smile in response to her/his smiles. You…, Parenting tips for babies 1-6 months, Did you know? 1-3-month-old babies see things best when they are between 20-30 centimeters away. By 3 months, babies have a greater range of vision. Provide ways for your child to see, hear, feel, move freely and touch you. Your baby will slowly establish trust with you. Slowly move colorful things for your child to see and reach for. A simple,…, Parenting tips for babies 6-9 months, Up to 75 per cent of each meal goes toward building your baby’s brain. Did you know? At 6 months, your baby can eat anything except honey which should not be given until she/he is a year old. When asking a question, give plenty of time for your baby to answer. Count to 10 in your head. If no answer is given, then answer the question yourself. Try…, Parenting tips for babies 9-12 months, Did you know? To increase infants’ self-esteem and confidence, always take a positive approach to your child’s learning process. Try to say “yes”, “good”, “well done” more often, rather than “no”, “bad”, “not good”. Play hide and seek with your infant and see if he can find the objects you hide. You can hide something under a cloth, and say: “…, Parenting tips for toddlers 1-2 years, Did you know? Toddlers are especially happy when they see that they are making the adults around them happy as well. Give your child things to put into containers and take out. She/he will try to take them out and put them back on their own, which is great for the development of eye-hand coordination skills. Give your toddler things to stack up.…, Parenting tips for toddlers 2+ years, Did you know? Children learn better when they are taught how to behave well instead of being scolded for behaving badly. Ask simple questions and listen to the answers. Encourage your child to talk by asking questions such as: “What is this?”, “Where is the window?”, “Which ball is bigger?”, “Would you like the red cup?”. You should see your child…

Did you know that the most important interaction you can have with your child is through play? Building your baby’s brain sounds daunting, but don’t be intimidated. Parenting is much more of an art than a science.  The experiences young children have and their relationships with key caretakers literally shape the development of their brain. And…, Get to know your baby, The most important thing that any parent can do to support the development, and particularly the brain development of a young child, is to be able to read your child’s cues. Through this, you can engage in what we call “serve and return” interaction, a form of responsive parenting. A baby serves a smile, a coo, a babble, a gesture, and the parent…, Have fun with your baby, Play can occur when you are feeding a child, when you are changing the child’s clothes, when you are bathing a child. These are all opportunities for playful interaction and learning between adults and children. Make the idea of ‘serve and return’ something that is easy, friendly and relaxing, not a chore or something overly technical or rigid.…, Boost your baby’s brains with games, In infancy with very young babies, it’s all about interaction, bringing in visuals, sounds, looking your baby in the eye, making that personal connection, being sensitive to your baby’s feelings. The best games build a sense of emotional safety that allows growth. For example, when you cover your face with a cloth and play peekaboo, saying “Where’…

“Did you know that your baby is developing memory from as young as two or three weeks of age? A baby as young as two or three weeks will remember your smell.  What is ‘normal’ when it comes to babies and sleeping?  As babies’ brains develop, there are reasons for them not to sleep because there are things to be curious about; they’re engaging with…

Advances in neuroscience are beginning to drive a revolutionary shift in the way we think about child development, as we learn more about the impact of both positive and negative experiences — and the interplay of experience and genetics — on the developing brain. These developments have significant implications for the future of millions of the…