What happens when a family receives concrete tools to support their child’s development from the earliest months of life? And what if that support comes right on time—just as the child begins to show signs of developmental delay? In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Primeros Pasos program set out to answer these questions with promising results. Inspired by Reach … [Read more...] about The Power of Timely Interventions in Early Childhood Development
Inter American Development Bank
Why Holding and Hugging Babies Is Not Just Good—It’s Essential
“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
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
Parenting as a Team: The Impact of Sharing Childcare
"It's always better as a team." This phrase, shared by a participant in the Committed Parenting for Early Childhood (PPC, for its Spanish initials: Programa Parentalidades Comprometidas con la Primera Infancia) program in Uruguay, sums up a fundamental principle of parenting: when childcare responsibilities are shared fairly, everyone benefits. During the early … [Read more...] about Parenting as a Team: The Impact of Sharing Childcare
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