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
IDB
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
The Challenge of Integrating Early Childhood Services with Caribbean Health Systems
Initial results from an innovative parenting program in Jamaica showed that it benefited children's cognitive development and parents’ attitudes about caring for children. However, evaluations in subsequent years found that these effects had disappeared. In this post, we present an early childhood program that is incorporated into the country’s health system, as well as the … [Read more...] about The Challenge of Integrating Early Childhood Services with Caribbean Health Systems
It takes a virtual village: Digital tools for supporting new moms during and beyond COVID-19
“Try not to move so much during this next contraction so I can take your COVID-19 sample” was one of the phrases I had not planned on hearing prior to March 2020 as I was preparing for the birth of my first child in June. Neither was my midwife asking me six weeks post-partum “Can you adjust your phone so we can begin your breast exam over … [Read more...] about It takes a virtual village: Digital tools for supporting new moms during and beyond COVID-19