It is inevitable that many of the issues affecting families over the last year predate the pandemic and remain once infection rates fade out and masks come off. These are issues that have been long-demanded but have not received adequate attention. We must keep them in focus during the recovery period in all countries and regions. That is why in this two-part post, we look back … [Read more...] about A Year in the Life of an American Family during the Pandemic (part I)
early childhood
Three reasons for prioritizing the reopening of childcare and preschools centers
Eight months have passed since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic. Since almost then, a large part of the childcare centers and preschools in Latin America and the Caribbean have been closed. According to the global tool developed by UNESCO to monitor the closure of educational centers due to the pandemic, only two countries of the … [Read more...] about Three reasons for prioritizing the reopening of childcare and preschools centers
What is your role in supporting breastfeeding?
Many of us have heard about the benefits of breastfeeding and its positive effects on the health and wellbeing of children, mothers, and their families, as well as for the environment and society as a whole. Is protecting children’s health and wellbeing important to you? Have you thought about where you fit into the warm chain of support and how you are … [Read more...] about What is your role in supporting breastfeeding?
One-on-one visits or group sessions? Two alternatives for parenting programs
For children to reach their full potential, it is essential to make sure their home environment fosters their development. This home environment has been made even more important by the situation of many care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our knowledge about how to implement family programs at scale is limited. Although efficacy trials of home visiting programs … [Read more...] about One-on-one visits or group sessions? Two alternatives for parenting programs
IDB Committed to Improving Lives of Latin American Children and Mothers
COVID-19 has exposed the heavy burden on female heads of household or women responsible for caring for children or other family members. One of the main obstacles continuing to impede women’s access to labor markets is the cultural expectation on their role as caregivers. In Latin America and the Caribbean, as in other regions of the world, the work of caring for and raising … [Read more...] about IDB Committed to Improving Lives of Latin American Children and Mothers