Young children deserve the best start in life

Imagine a 3-year-old girl growing up in rural China. Her parents want to give her the best start in life but lack the knowledge and skills to do so. Luckily, the family has plenty of support. A village health worker visits her regularly at home to ensure she's had her health check-ups, is eating nutritious food, and her development is on track. In the nearby town, there are regular early childhood development (ECD) care group activities, where she gets to play with other children, and her parents learn how to provide nurturing and responsive care. This girl can go on to achieve anything in life.

But without the support and care, the girl's chances in life could be limited. As a child, she might struggle with her physical and mental health, or with her ability to learn at school. After growing up, she might not be able to find a job. She would be less likely to achieve her full potential in life.

Early childhood, during the first six years of life, is a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of a child's development and build a firm foundation for their future. In the first few years of life, more than 1 million neural connections are formed every second, a pace never repeated again. For young children to achieve their full potential, they need five scientifically proven things: good health; adequate nutrition; early learning and stimulation; safety and security; and responsive caregiving with parents or caregivers who love them. At UNICEF, we call this the nurturing care framework.