Early childhood development is a critical period of life.
Development in the first few years of life sets the stage for lifelong health. Early developmental domains like physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, adaptive behavioral and communication form the foundation upon which additional skills are acquired.
The GSED Norms & Standards Study will help researchers and policymakers paint a clearer picture of what development should look like in diverse contexts. With the data collected in this study, we will be able to set worldwide standards for child development and can support policies and programs to help children everywhere meet these standards.
Unlike other stages of life, early childhood development is particularly sensitive to environmental risk and more responsive to positive interventions that can mitigate risk. Therefore, it is especially important to be able to evaluate policies and interventions and their impact on childhood development during this period. GSED studies will provide instrumental data to help policymakers and researchers look more closely at population-level development and how it is by certain interventions.
Black et al. 2017.
Types of Interventions
Nurturing care from parents and caregivers, which includes attention to a child’s health, nutrition, security and early learning, plays a vital role in promoting healthy development. The benefits of nurturing care are lifelong, leading to better health, improved learning abilities, and higher earning potential. Interventions are centered around parenting programs, maternal mental health and wellbeing, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
