Promoting child development

Recent evidence emphasizes the interconnectedness of different aspects of young children’s development, the variability of development, and the way that it unfolds in the context of the family. This chapter describes the role of primary prevention in promoting child development, particularly the cognitive aspects of child development. Parental awareness about child development is central to any child health programme. Professionals have a key role in providing appropriate information about child development to families and also in mediating what is available on the Internet. This highlights the need for regular monitoring with a common understanding of development across professionals and the use of appropriate outcomes which are meaningful to parents. A range of different interventions have been tested, many with positive results, but effective service delivery needs to be multifaceted and systemic. The outcome of promoting early child development should be seen in terms of improving school readiness, and enhancing children’s well-being.