The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of early childhood development (ECD) centre staff in providing care and learning support to children living in a high-risk, low socioeconomic community. We interviewed 14 staff from an ECD centre. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. We derived four…

Many governments have launched the top-down early childhood curriculum (ECC) reforms to enhance the accountability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. The present discourse analysis of latest ECC policies across four diverse but representative countries -- Australia, China, New Zealand, and Singapore -- aims to examine the…

The development of cognitive and motor skills early in life is essential for a child's global development and learning, which in turn influences later health and well-being. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the associations between sociodemographic factors and nutritional factors with cognitive and motor delays in infants aged 6-12…

Social dimensions of the caregiving environment, like secure relationships to caregivers and high interactional classroom quality, are seen to directly or indirectly stimulate children's learning and development. However, little is known about the underlying processes, specifically with regard to the role of peers. To fill this gap we videotaped…

The present study investigated the relationship between teacher-child interaction quality and children's social-emotional and language development. Also considered was the level/status of classroom quality in preschool setting. Classroom Assessment Scoring System Pre-K (CLASS Pre-K), the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA-P2), and Peabody…

Playing is essential for the development of higher psychological functions. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that playing constitutes an essential step in children's socio-cognitive development by describing playtime as the indicator of the gradual overcoming of self-centred thinking, with a view to acquiring new social adjustment…

The need to support children develop the capacities required for the twenty-first century is inseparably linked to the provision of twenty-first-century learning environments. Exploring ECEC teachers' (N = 34) assessment of their classroom's physical environment, the present study aimed at exploring whether the physical environment of Cypriot…

Due to the high rates of preterm births, it is essential to examine the developmental risk factors and monitor development. The aim of our cross-sectional study is to examine the cognitive, language and motor development of LBW (<2500 g) children (N = 438) regarding sociodemographic risk factors. We measured the 2-year development with the…

In South Africa, the mother-infant relationship is often conceptualized using international frameworks. Yet, contextual knowledge of mother-infant bonding is essential, as a strong mother-infant bond enhances a mother's capacity to care for her infant, and is associated with many positive child development outcomes. Community health workers work…

Kindergarten has become increasingly academic in nature. One of the primary dilemmas arising from this shift is the tension between the use of developmentally appropriate practices and the obligation to teach academic standards. To gain a deeper understanding of how kindergarten is enacted in the evolving curricular landscape, we look beyond these…

Theory of mind (ToM) allows people to understand their own and others' behaviour, crediting it with intentions, desires and beliefs. In the case of parenting, maternal reflective function unfolds within child-caregiver interactions, and previous studies have pointed out this variable as necessary for positive care. In the present study we sought…

The present study aimed to investigate Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) care needs and determine the related driving forces and challenges. The current study adhered to a qualitative emergent design to obtain insight into the attitudes of all individuals engaged in providing care services for OVC. In addition, the challenges and driving forces…

Detecting developmental delays is essential for early intervention in low to middle-income countries. A cross-sectional, within-subject, comparative design was employed to determine the performance of the Parents Evaluation of Developmental status (PEDS) tools smartphone application and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (BSID…

In the absence of agreement about child resilience, this study used a Delphi procedure with 32 experts in child development to reach agreement about child resilience. According to participants child resilience is best defined as a process whereby a child develops the capacity to adapt when experiencing adversity, although the experience of…

The aim of this research was to assess global and socio-emotional development and infant's language of caregivers by means of the third edition of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Literature points peculiarities on the institutional setting and that presence or absence of mother can impact infant's development in several forms.…