Global research shows why ‘the next 1,000 days’ are crucial for millions of children around the world and their development

A new series featuring the work of an early childhood expert from the University of Wollongong (UOW) has shed light on the ‘next 1000 days’, an opportunity between the ages of two and five that is crucial for the development of a child.

Published in The Lancetthe two–part series builds on the foundation of the First 1000 Days, a concept developed to highlight the enormous potential and fragility of the first two years of a child’s life, and the impact this has on their ability to grow , learn and flourish.

‘Early Childhood Development and the Next 1,000 Days’, co-authored by distinguished Professor Anthony Okely, from UOW’s School of Social Sciences, focuses on the importance of caring for children from an early age, covering overall health, nutrition, safety and security are involved. , learning and responsive care delivery.

It brings together experts from around the world, including contributions from researchers from Harvard University, Stanford University and New York University in the United States, University College London and Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, and UW in Australia.

The series includes two complementary articles; the first article illustrates the impact on children’s well-being and development, while the second summarizes the benefits and costs of key strategies that can support children’s development.

The research shows that in low- and middle-income countries, almost three-quarters of all children aged three or four – approximately 181.9 million children – do not have access to adequate care, jeopardizing their healthy development.

Professor Okely, co-director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Children’s Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity at UOW, said these statistics were startling and showed that more needs to be done to ensure children do not fall through the cracks at an early age traps. .

“The evidence shows that the transition to the next thousand days is essential for laying the foundations of health and development that will determine the trajectory of a child’s life and well-being,” said Professor Okely. ‘Yet the evidence is clear that for many children that level of nurturing care is not available.

‘In the first thousand days, from pregnancy to the age of two, children receive strong interventions from health care, but in the following thousand days that direct, regular contact with health care or education decreases. income countries, fewer than one in three children aged three or four attend early childhood programs, despite evidence that these improve child development.

“There are many risks to the health, well-being and development of children, including physical punishment of the child, suboptimal nutrition, poor mental health of the caregiver, exposure to pollution and climate change.”

Professor Okely said interventions in early childhood care and education, and in parenting, would have a huge impact on the development and well-being of children in low- and middle-income countries.

“In high-income Western countries we can see the impact and importance of interventions for young children, but the research shows that only 5% of these have been implemented in low- and middle-income countries. These children are the most vulnerable, yet they do not receive the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.

“A minimum package of one year of early childhood care and education for all children would cost less than 0.15% of current gross domestic product for low- and middle-income countries, and the benefits would far outweigh the costs. Children deserve the best start in life, at minimal cost.

“The next thousand days are the ideal time to improve children’s developmental outcomes. But it requires a multifaceted approach, including parent education programs, nutritional interventions, high-quality early childhood care, financial support for vulnerable caregivers and the promotion of healthy behavior. If we can get this right, we can improve cognitive and academic outcomes for these children in the short and long term.”

The authors of the series recommend that policymakers around the world, but especially those in low- and middle-income countries, invest in the next thousand days.

Emphasis, Professor Okely said, should be placed on increasing access to quality early childhood education and care, including adequately paid and trained teachers, reasonable teacher-student ratios, child-centered play, evidence-based curricula and warm, stimulating educational programs. and responsive classroom interactions.

“We know the importance of the first 1,000 days. Now we must give the same level of attention and care to the next 1,000 days to ensure children around the world get what they need to learn, grow and thrive,” he said. .

“This is an urgent issue, an issue of equality and inclusivity, that will shape the developmental trajectory of hundreds of millions of children around the world. The costs of not acting are simply too high.”