Pediatricians invest significant effort in the promotion of faster weight gain in children under 2 who are not growing as they should. They press the issue because there’s a great deal of evidence that suggests that growth delays during this stage of life negatively impact future cognitive development as well as rates of morbidity and mortality; however, recent studies also … [Read more...] about Full Tummy, Happy Heart?
What are Latin-American and Caribbean countries doing in childhood development?
The stimuli that children are exposed to from the beginning of life to age 5 have the greatest impact on their development, and they define the health, personality and intellectual capacity of each child. This is why it is crucial to invest early and well in child development. Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are investing more and more in early childhood … [Read more...] about What are Latin-American and Caribbean countries doing in childhood development?
The Long-Term Impact of High-Quality Early Childhood Education
Would you believe me if I told you that having gone to a high-quality kindergarten can have long-term effects on behavioral dimensions such as effort, initiative and participation? … [Read more...] about The Long-Term Impact of High-Quality Early Childhood Education
Conditions for Successful Exclusive Breastfeeding
I have two daughters, ages four and six. Friends who know me well know that I’ve been an advocate of breastfeeding throughout my children’s upbringing. With great effort and enthusiasm, I closely followed the World Health Organization’s recommendation to feed them solely with my breast milk until six months of age. After that age, I gradually introduced complementary foods but … [Read more...] about Conditions for Successful Exclusive Breastfeeding
Mommy, Read Me a Story
I remember being really surprised when the pediatrician gave me a children’s story at my daughter’s appointment a few months ago. Since then, every time we’ve gone back for check-ups, the doctor has given us a new story, and we’ve talked about the importance of reading and how to promote interest in books in a child who’s barely six months old. But why the emphasis on reading … [Read more...] about Mommy, Read Me a Story