Children’s Well Being: The Measure of our Worth
The first shoot of any plant, if it makes a good start, has the greatest effect in helping it to attain its mature natural excellence. Plato. The Republic
Measuring Early Childhood Development for Prevention and Intervention Symposium February 13, 2008
Early child development is: “Child development is a foundation for community development and economic development…” 2007. The Science of Early Child Development: Closing the Gap Between What we Know and What we Do
Early child development is affected by:
Socioeconomic factors Parenting style The language environment Social and cultural context Values and beliefs about children, childhood and childrearing Neighborhood factors and community
The result of a complex interaction between nature and nurture. Integrated Rapid Resilient Natural Eclectic Variable Unpredictable Sometimes uneven
Early childhood development is
complex
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The social and cultural context of early childhood is changing…
Accumulating evidence of the value of early childhood programs Increasing diversity of families More children in non parental learning and care settings Increased policy focus on school readiness Accountability for developmental outcomes
The BIG picture: A question of purpose….
The BIG picture: A question of pedagogy…
A new educational paradigm An expanded role for the “educator” Pedagogic relationships with families as well as with children A multidisciplinary context Integration of care and education
The BIG picture: Measuring early child development…
Measuring for prevention and early intervention…
What can be measured? What can’t be measured? What must be measured? What shouldn’t be measured?
To prepare children for school? To educate children? To improve adult literacy rates? To prevent crime? To give children a good childhood? To improve our economic productivity? To provide parent education? To support families?
Early identification Eligibility Accountability Monitoring progress Informing planning Communicating results Assuring quality
Today’s program
Implications Indicators Innovation Invisibility Adequacy Description
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A question of will
Doing what we know is right for children
The last word to Rousseau‌ Hold childhood in reverence, give nature time to work before you take over her business. Emile
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