Child Development

Knowledge of child development is the foundation for work with children, and therefore is a requirement for all those seeking to protect children. It influences every aspect of a child from physical growth and mental abilities, to how they express emotions, think and behave.

Healthy development takes children through stages, whereby they obtain an increasing number of physical, mental, and emotional skills in order to become independent adults. These stages provide benchmarks for determining if a child is developing normally. Without knowledge of the normal developmental stages of a child, a worker cannot identify developmental delays, assess the impact of abuse, or make recommendations regarding the child’s physical, mental or emotional health. Understanding what a child is capable of allows adults to communicate on their level and provide age-appropriate responses and interventions.

Knowledge of early childhood development and attachment behaviour is particularly important for protection workers. The physical health and care a child experiences as an infant will affect their development into adulthood. A child needs to have experienced a positive attachment by the age of 3 in order to develop cognitively, physically, socially, and psychologically. Healthy attachments come from the close bond a child experiences when provided with the responsive and stable care of at least one adult. In a residential home, children are less likely to receive the amount of individual attention from a permanent caretaker that they require. Children under 12, in particular, benefit more from a kinship, foster or adoption placement where they can experience closer relationships.

Observation of a child’s attachment to caretakers will influence the type of care, permanency plan, and level of support services offered. It can also aid in the identification of abuse.

This section contains information on the importance of child development knowledge, guidance on the ages and stages of children, and attachment theory.

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Skillful Parenting and Molding Behavior at an Early Age: Bridging the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do

Parenting in Africa Network for the Ultimate Protection of Children , 01 Feb 2013

This new study by Parenting in Africa Network (PAN) was conducted in three regions in Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa and Busia), involving primary care givers of children age 0-8, children participating in Early Childhood Development and Education centers, and stakeholders and professionals involved in skillful parenting and early childhood development.

Three Core Concepts in Early Development

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2013

A series of three videos on how early experiences are built into our bodies and brains.

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What Works in Tackling Child Abuse and Neglect? A Manual for Policy Makers, Managers, and Professionals

Tinje Berge-Le Clercg, Mariska de Batt from the Netherlands Youth Institute, 2013

This manual is the main outcome of the European Commission Daphne III programme, Prevent and Combat Child Abuse: What works? Involving regional exchanges and research from five countries (Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands), this manual brings together knowledge on what works in tackling child abuse. The manual suggests evidence and practice-based prevention and response strategies against child abuse and neglect, including programs and services that have been shown to be successful in strengthening family care.

Family stressors and children's outcomes

Elizabeth Jones, Leslie Gutman, and Lucinda Platt , 2013

This new study from the Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre, an independent research center with funding from the United Kingdom Department for Education, identifies which family stress factors and parental behaviors are associated with positive and negative outcomes for children at the age of 7 and whether stressful life events experienced in childhood are associated with negative outcomes in adolescence.

Indicators of Family Care for Development for Use in Multicountry Surveys

Patricia Kariger, Edward A. Frongillo, Patrice Engle, Pia M. Rebello Britto, Sara M. Sywulka, Purnima Menon, 30 Dec 2012

This excellent article explains the process through which indicators of family care for (child) development were drafted and tested in several countries.

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India: Annual Report of the Ministry of Women and Child Development

The Indian Ministry of Women and Child Development, 01 Dec 2012

In its Annual report (2011-2012), the Indian Ministry of Women and Child Development reports on progress in the implementation of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), a new policy and programmatic strategy that specifically articulates the need to move away in approach and services from over-reliance on institutional care and towards responses that support family based care.

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Belarus: System of Detection, Intervention, Care, and Rehabilitation of Children Under 3 with Special Needs

Elena Bogdan, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, 22 Nov 2012

This presentation to the 2012 Sofia Conference introduces social services available in Belarus for the identification, intervention, care, and rehabilitation of children under the age of 3 with disabilities, in order to prevent their abandonment and placement in institutions.

CEE/CIS: Child Care Systems Reforms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Why We Need to Focus on Children Below Three years

Jean-Claude Legrand, Senior Regional Advisor Child Protection, UNICEF CEE/CIS, 21 Nov 2012

This presentation to the 2012 Sofia Conference by Jean-Claude Legrand, Senior Regional Advisor Child Protection, UNICEF CEE/CIS, highlights the situation of children in formal care, with particular concern for children with disabilities, and recommends reform and policy initiatives to improve the childcare systems in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Kazakhstan: Reinforcing the Role of Primary Health Care (PHC) Workers and Parents in Care for young Children

Kuan Sabi Program, Kazakhstan, 21 Nov 2012

This presentation to the 2012 Sofia Conference by the Kuan Sabi Program, in Kazakhstan suggests ways to improve the knowledge and skills of Primary Health Care workers that care for children under the age of 3.

Moldova: Cooperation Between Ministries in Preventing Infant Mortality and Child Institutionalization

Valentina Buliga, Minister of Labor in Moldova, Social Protection and Family, 20 Nov 2012

This presentation to the 2012 Sofia Conference by Valentina Buliga, Minister of Labor in Moldova, Social Protection and Family, introduces Moldova's ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor to reduce infant mortality and the placement of children under the age of 3 in institutions.