The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development from edX

What does a successful early childhood care program look like? How has a child’s brain developed at the age of 3? How does nutrition impact the future well-being of a child into adulthood?

Learn the answers to these questions and more in "The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development". With leading experts in the field – hailing from Harvard University, New York University and UNICEF, among other institutions – we’ll explore how neuroscience, sociology, anthropology and other studies have influenced our understanding of early childhood development.

This course is for:

Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in international development, teaching, nursing and medicine, and other fields who are interested in the key concepts and practices in early childhood development
Teachers, healthcare professionals and other practitioners interested in the societal and biological factors impacting the children they support
Sustainable development practitioners who want to understand the lifecycle of needs and support necessary to help children globally, including those who work for international aid organizations and nonprofits in the realms of poverty, nutrition and education

What's inside

Learning objectives

All about the brain: how neurological makeup affects children’s development
The intersection of childcare, education and other programming with policies at the national level and beyond

Case studies: how factors such as forced migration impact a child’s future

All about the brain: how neurological makeup affects children’s development
The intersection of childcare, education and other programming with policies at the national level and beyond
Case studies: how factors such as forced migration impact a child’s future

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction

Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development

The State of the World's Children

How Brain Architecture Develops

The Impact of Adversity & Toxic Stress

Resilience & How to Foster It

Module 2: Child Development: Prenatal to Age 3

Development in Culture & Context

Physical Development

Cognitive Development and Perception

Language Development

Social Development

Emotional Development & Temperament

Module 3: Child Development: Ages 3 to 8

Cognitive Development & Executive Function

Language

Socio-emotional Development

Module 4: Tour of ECD Programs and Sectors Part I

Introduction to Multi-sector Aspects

Health Programs

Nutrition & Parenting Programs

Module 5: Tour of ECD Programs and Sectors Part 2

Social Protection Programs

Early Care & Education Programs

Child Protection Programs

Module 6: Communities and Situations of Conflict and Migration

Uganda Case Study

Community Based Programs

Conflict & Migration

Module 7: From Programs to Policies

How is Policy Created?

Quality, Governance & Sustainability

Financing ECD Policies

Module 8: The Future: Innovations and Growth

Innovation in ECD

Innovation from Around the World

Conclusion: The Future of ECD

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the role of neuroscience, sociology, and other studies in understanding early childhood development

Taught by renowned experts in the field from Harvard University, New York University, and UNICEF

Covers the latest research and best practices in early childhood care and development

Provides a comprehensive overview of the field, from prenatal development to early childhood

Designed for a wide range of professionals and individuals interested in early childhood development

Requires extensive background knowledge in early childhood development

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development with these activities:

Volunteer at a Local Preschool

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By volunteering in a preschool setting you can interact directly with professionals and children to have a better understanding of those you are learning about in this course.

Browse courses on Development

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Review Statistics

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Statistics are taught in Module 1, this pre-course review will help increase your understanding and support your ability to complete this module.

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Review your notes from a previous statistics course.
Take a practice quiz on statistics.
Watch a video tutorial on statistics.

Review Child Development

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Review key concepts in child development to refresh your memory and be better prepared for the material explored in this course.

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Review your notes from a previous child development course.
Read a chapter from a child development textbook.
Watch a video lecture on child development.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Read: Early Childhood Development: A Global Perspective

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This book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of early childhood development from a global perspective. It will help you understand the importance of ECD and the challenges that children face in different parts of the world.

View Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat... on Amazon

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Create a Blog Post on the Importance of ECD

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Write a blog post discussing the importance of early childhood development and sharing your insights from the course.

Browse courses on Development

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Research the importance of ECD.
Write a blog post about your findings.
Share your blog post with others.

ECD Resources for Practitioners

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Compile a list of resources for practitioners working in the field of ECD, including articles, books, websites, and organizations.

Browse courses on Resources

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Search for resources on ECD.
Create a list of the resources that you find.
Organize the list by topic.
Write a brief description of each resource.
Share the list with other practitioners.

Case Study: Malnourished Child in Uganda

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Research and summarize the circumstances and care protocol for a child suffering from malnutrition in Uganda. This will help you understand the challenges and solutions for treating malnutrition in a developing country.

Browse courses on Forced Migration

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Research the causes and effects of malnutrition in Uganda.
Read the case study on the malnourished child in Uganda.
Identify the factors that contributed to the child's malnutrition.
Describe the care protocol that was used for the child.
Summarize your findings and write a report on the case study.

Design an ECD Program for a Refugee Camp

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Research and design an ECD program for a refugee camp, taking into account the unique needs of the children in this setting.

Browse courses on Adversity

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Research the needs of children in refugee camps.
Identify the resources that are available.
Design a program that meets the needs of the children.
Write a proposal for the program.
Implement the program.

Career center

Learners who complete The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Early Childhood Educator

This course is a perfect fit for Early Childhood Educators. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field, from the latest research on child development to best practices in early education. You will learn about the different types of early childhood programs, how to create a developmentally appropriate curriculum, and how to assess children's progress.

See salaries and explore the career path for Early Childhood Educator

Developmental Researcher

This course is essential for Developmental Researchers. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field of child development, from the latest research on brain development to best practices in early intervention. You will learn about the different methods used to study child development, how to design and conduct research studies, and how to disseminate research findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Developmental Researcher

Pediatrician

This course is perfect for Pediatricians. It provides a comprehensive overview of child development from a medical perspective. You will learn about the physical, cognitive, and emotional development of children from birth to adolescence. This knowledge will be invaluable in your work with children and their families.

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Educational Psychologist

This course is a great fit for Educational Psychologists. It provides a comprehensive overview of child development, with a focus on the cognitive and emotional development of children. You will learn about the different factors that can impact a child's development, how to assess children's needs, and how to develop and implement interventions to support children's learning and development.

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Professor

This course is a great fit for Professors who teach in the field of early childhood development. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field, from the latest research on brain development to best practices in early intervention. You will learn about the different theories of child development, how to develop and deliver effective instruction, and how to assess student learning.

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Child Psychologist

Child Psychologists will find this course helpful as it provides a solid foundation in child development, with a focus on the emotional and behavioral development of children. You will learn about the different stages of emotional development, how to assess children's mental health, and how to develop and implement interventions to help children with emotional and behavioral problems.

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Executive Director

Executive Directors of organizations that work in the field of early childhood development may find this course helpful. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field, from the latest research on brain development to best practices in early intervention. You will learn about the different types of early childhood programs, how to develop and implement effective programs, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.

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Program Manager

This course is a good fit for Program Managers who work in the field of early childhood development. It provides a comprehensive overview of the field, from the latest research on brain development to best practices in early intervention. You will learn about the different types of early childhood programs, how to develop and implement effective programs, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.

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Occupational Therapist

This course is helpful for Occupational Therapists. It provides a solid foundation in child development that is essential for working with children with disabilities. You will learn about the different areas of development that can be impacted by disabilities, how to assess children's needs, and how to develop and implement interventions to help children reach their full potential.

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Childcare Worker

This course will be helpful for Childcare Workers. It covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of caring for children from birth to age 8. You will learn about the developmental stages of children, how to create a safe and nurturing environment, and how to support children's learning and development.

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Policy Analyst

This course may be useful for Policy Analysts who work on issues related to child development. It provides a good overview of the field, from the latest research on brain development to best practices in early intervention. You will learn about the different factors that can impact a child's development, how to develop and implement policies to support children and families, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these policies.

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Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologists may find this course useful as it provides a good overview of child development, with a focus on language and communication. You will learn about the different stages of language development, how to assess children's language skills, and how to develop and implement interventions to help children with speech and language disorders.

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Social Worker

Those interested in becoming Social Workers may find this course helpful. It provides a good foundation in child development that may be useful in working with children and families. You will learn about the different factors that can impact a child's development, how to assess risk factors, and how to develop and implement interventions to support children and families.

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Nurse

The course may be of use to Nurses as it provides important information about child development that can be helpful when working with children and their families. You will learn about the different stages of child development, how to assess children's health and development, and how to provide support and guidance to parents.

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Elementary School Teacher

This course may be helpful for Elementary School Teachers. While it focuses on early childhood development, some of the material may be relevant to your work with older children. You will learn about the different stages of child development, how to create a supportive learning environment, and how to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners.

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