Early childhood is undoubtedly the most rapid period of development in the human life. The years from conception, through birth to eight years of age, are critical to the complete and healthy cognitive, emotional and physical growth of the children.
According to UNICEF, “ECD refers to a comprehensive approach to policies and programs for children from birth to 8 years of age, their parents and their caregivers. Its purpose is to protect the child’s rights to develop his/her full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential’’. Morrison GS (1980) considered early childhood as the stage of the child from conception till the age of eight.
After the end of the Second World War, the UN was established in 1945. In 1948, Universal Declaration of Human Rights was championed by the UN that also emphasized special care of motherhood and childhood. In 1959 the UN General Assembly adapted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. After these steps, Children’s right has come to a global focus. Since then, many child psychologist and educationists have put emphasis on the rights of the children.
UN had declared 1979 as the International Year of the Child. In 1989, the conventional on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly.
Nature of ECD
1. ECD (early childhood development) is the most rapid phase of human life.
2. A newborn child has about a 100 billion brain cells. Brain malnutrition and important neural pathways and connections are progressively developed after birth in early childhood.
3. Inadequate nutrition after birth in the first years of life can seriously interfere with brain development.
4. Early stress can affect brain functions and memory adversely and permanently.
Need and Importance
Nepal has been trying to give special attention to implement programs to save and nurture children of this stage. Recent global experiences demonstrate that ECD programs yield positive results not just in the immediate term but also in the long run for both children and the communities. It is important and necessary because of the following reasons:
1. ECD programs can reduce child mortality
ECD programs ensure a standard of health services and nutrition initiatives to children that are necessary to avoid many preventable diseases. Its programs often also monitor growth, provide food supplements and micro-nutrients and can help with such existing public health efforts as mass immunization. It also gives information in family planning, prenatal care and breast-feeding and re-hydration therapy. They also teach families about the importance of interacting with and stimulating young children.
2. ECD programs emphasize optimal development
Research on ECD clearly show that ECD stimulates children’s desire and ability to learn and can increase the return on investment in education by increasing school readiness and making education more effective.
3. ECD programs gives parents and caregivers opportunity to join labor force
ECD programs have reduced the work loss of parents and caregivers because they can leave the children in the daycare centers and pursue their work.
4. ECD programs are essential investment towards breaking inter-generational cycles of poverty
For children under two, malnutrition and neglect is a consequence and cause of poverty. ECD programs identify the vulnerable groups and make it more likely to take steps in reduction of poverty.
5. ECD programs serve in dealing with disability and development delay
Early intervention with children with disability can help them to reach their full potential. Mothers and fathers are also taught how to interact and stimulate their children at home in order to maintain the progress they make.
6. Integrated ECD programs can also modify and reduce gender related inequalities
ECD programs has encouraged in promoting father’s role in parenting. The girls in the daycare centers are well prepared to the school education and the older sisters don’t have to look after the younger ones.
7. Investing in ECD build social capital
ECD programming can strengthen the community by creating baby friendly communities.
8. ECD helps to build communities that can work in emergencies
During the economic crisis, the ECD projects can provide emergency food components to infants and children. Thus they can have opportunity to protect young children from permanent physical and intellectual stunting associated with malnutrition.
9. ECD programs engages in advocacy and education of communities
ECD programs extend its project on children and forms a formal school to integrate children with physical and mental disabilities into the community.
As Nepal has been aware of this developmental phase, we can expect the children at pre-primary level to live happily at school and home. They may also be socially adjusted to their neighborhood as well.
