Windows into Early Learning and Development

From the Executive Summary:

"The first five years of a child's life is a time of great promise and rapid change, when the developing brain is most open to the influence of relationships and experiences. However, millions of children across the world are at risk of not reaching their full potential, because they do not get the care and early stimulation they need.

The Windows into Early Learning and Development report presents research on early childhood development (ECD), and makes recommendations about what is needed to improve children's exposure to care, stimulation, and play in the early years that will impact their lifelong development.

The report uses recent IDELA (International Development and Early Learning Assessment) evidence to investigate factors influencing child development, and ECD [early childhood development] approaches that work for children in low-and middle-income countries. It provides lessons learned from existing ECD programs and identifies strategies and approaches that are improving learning and development for the world's most deprived children.

Four Lessons from IDELA: Evidence to Action...

1. To reach the most vulnerable children, we need to go beyond preschools....As countries work towards universal preschool coverage, transitional strategies are needed to support children who need an early learning boost where there is no preschool.
2. Caring and stimulating environments - at home and in centers - improving child development....Parents' daily interactions with their children are a critical factor impacting a child's development. Center-based ECD programs need to have a primary focus on the quality of activities and interactions with young children.
3. Serious focus and investment is needed to close the early gaps for the most vulnerable young children. Rural, linguistic minority and refugee children are falling behind those who have a more stable environment and need urgent support. These gaps can be addressed with targeted early interventions...[that] address the various risk factors and support early learning as well as social protection...
4. Start Early!....Through our preschool work in many countries, we have learned that interventions for older children can open doors and foster dialogue about early learning and development for children under the age of three."