“You'll spoil the baby,” “You’re letting them manipulate you,” “If you carry them so much, they’ll never learn to self-soothe.” These are just some of the comments many parents and caregivers have heard when they pick up their baby to comfort them. For a long time, these ideas shaped parenting styles that sought to limit physical contact in order to encourage … [Read more...] about Why Holding and Hugging Babies Is Not Just Good—It’s Essential
childhood development
Secrets of a First-Time Dad’s Brain
The arrival of a first child sparks a whirlwind of hope and dreams in soon-to-be parents: the vision of a full, stable, and enriching family life intertwines with the excitement of the unknown. In this blog post, we share research that explores how fatherhood impacts men’s brains. The Brain of a Dad Having a child brings physical, … [Read more...] about Secrets of a First-Time Dad’s Brain
Care Work Is Also Work: Recognizing and Valuing Women’s Role in Care
Care is a universal need. All of us have received and will receive care at some point in life: in early childhood and later in life due to aging, illness, or potential disability. However, the responsibility for providing care falls primarily on women, who in Latin America and the Caribbean account for 71% of the hours dedicated to caring for others (including both children and … [Read more...] about Care Work Is Also Work: Recognizing and Valuing Women’s Role in Care
The Impact of Working with Families on the Development of the Most Vulnerable Children
Programs working with families through group visits and/or group sessions have shown significant impacts on children's development – both in the short term through cognitive and language improvements and in adulthood through improved academic and work performance. Conceptualizing and implementing programs of this type from scratch can be costly and challenging, especially … [Read more...] about The Impact of Working with Families on the Development of the Most Vulnerable Children
5 Steps Toward Generating Policy-oriented Data on Access to Quality Early Childhood Services
How do we know if childcare centers, preschools and home visits are effectively preparing children for school? How do we know if these services actually promote child development in young children? The question of how to measure access to quality services has been present in academia and policy for decades. So, where do we stand today and how should we move forward? In … [Read more...] about 5 Steps Toward Generating Policy-oriented Data on Access to Quality Early Childhood Services