by Elizabeth Norton It's a sad fact that children born in poverty start out at a disadvantage and continue to fall further behind kids who are more privileged as they grow up. In developing countries, chiefly in Africa and Asia, some 200 million children under age 5 won't reach the same milestones—for physical growth, school performance, and earnings later on—as children who … [Read more...] about Training the Brain to Lift Toddlers Out of Poverty
“What a Drag! I Have a Parent Meeting at My Kid’s Preschool.”
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division by Patricia Jara This is a common reaction from parents who are less than enthusiastic about getting involved at the child care center that their children attend. Considering how important it is for the family to be actively involved in the child’s development from an early age, we need to rethink the … [Read more...] about “What a Drag! I Have a Parent Meeting at My Kid’s Preschool.”
One in Five Mexican Women Presents Symptoms of Maternal Depression
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division by Filipa de Castro and Jean Marie Place Both in Mexico and on a global scale, depression is the main threat to mothers’ mental health, especially in contexts of socioeconomic vulnerability and marginalization [link in Spanish]. Several studies indicate that depression is preventable, detectable and … [Read more...] about One in Five Mexican Women Presents Symptoms of Maternal Depression
No One Is Born Knowing How to Parent…But It Can Be Learned!
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division by Patricia Jara We’ve all heard our parents say—and perhaps even said it ourselves—that no one is taught to be a parent, probably in an attempt to justify an ill-conceived response to an uncertain or stressful situation involving our children. Indeed, the basic skills needed to provide quality care to … [Read more...] about No One Is Born Knowing How to Parent…But It Can Be Learned!
The Bite That Didn’t Have to Happen
© Blog First Steps, IDB’s Social Protection and Health Division by Nancy Elias News outlets around the world have blasted Uruguayan soccer player Luis Suárez’s lack of self-control. He was suspended by FIFA for having bitten an opponent during a World Cup match. Does this behavior say something about his childhood? … [Read more...] about The Bite That Didn’t Have to Happen