We grow as part of a biological process, but growing is not the same as developing. Growth refers to physical changes, such as height or weight, which can be measured by certain standards. Development, on the other hand, is a complex process, involving biological, psychological and social changes, which influence later stages of life. With 43% of children under five at risk of … [Read more...] about Growing Up Is Not the Same as Developing: Definitions to Enhance Comprehensive Development in Childhood
How Adverse Childhood Experiences Impact Long-Term Development and What We Can Do to Prevent Their Effects
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—such as neglect, physical or emotional maltreatment, abuse, abandonment, or witnessing domestic violence—are more common than one might think. Since they were first studied in 1998, research has shown that, for example, 6 out of 10 people in the United States experienced at least one adverse experience before turning 18. Without adequate … [Read more...] about How Adverse Childhood Experiences Impact Long-Term Development and What We Can Do to Prevent Their Effects
Challenging Inequalities: Key Policies to Advance the Early Childhood Agenda
We tend to remember very little about what happens to us in the early years of life. And yet, it is during those years that the foundations of learning and our future trajectory are built," said Diana Rodríguez, Special Advisor on Gender and Diversity to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), during the opening of the event where we celebrated World … [Read more...] about Challenging Inequalities: Key Policies to Advance the Early Childhood Agenda
A Decade of Efforts to Reduce Maternal and Neonatal Mortality: The Salud Mesoamerica Initiative
During the summer of 2012, on a visit to the Guna Yala indigenous region in northeastern Panama, we met Iranelda, a 16-year-old girl in labor whose baby was in a transverse position, requiring a cesarean section. She was ready to be transferred to Panama City to receive the necessary medical care. However, her family objected, trusting that the community’s healers, with their … [Read more...] about A Decade of Efforts to Reduce Maternal and Neonatal Mortality: The Salud Mesoamerica Initiative
Primeros Pasos: Favorite Articles of 2024
Another year is ending, and it’s time to reflect. For us at the Primeros Pasos Editorial Committee, this means reviewing which articles were the most read throughout the year, which sparked the most comments, and what topics drew the most interest. After all, looking back at what we’ve accomplished helps us plan ahead with better insights, ensuring we continue offering relevant … [Read more...] about Primeros Pasos: Favorite Articles of 2024