Parenting Education

This app provides guidance to parents to better care for their children.

Caring for children in a holistic way during early childhood has a great impact on the cognitive, social-emotional and language development of children. Children who receive age-appropriate care and stimulation from their caregivers at home or in childcare centres have a better opportunity to develop holistically and perform better when they are enrolled in education. They participate in the learning process and better enjoy it, which results in further development in all developmental domains. Accordingly, parenting education is essential to properly support children’s development.

During the first years of life, significant changes occur in the brain, and a child's interactions with his or her family and the wider environment shape the child's development. However, in some cases, caregivers have misconceptions about early childhood. Although caregivers play and interact with children, at times they do not fully understand how important playing and interaction, as well as care and protection, is for their children’s development.

All children are capable of learning from the environment staring from their birth. Not only that, they are also capable of utilizing their five senses. In the first year of a child’s life, the brain of the child triples in size. The complete development of the brain requires frequent interaction, stimulation, new experiences and nutrition. Thousands of cells of a child’s brain are activated when the caregivers interact with the child. The more interaction and stimulation, the stronger the connection between cells is. In this way, the brain of a child develops.

To bring the appropriate change in the lives of children, special training, expensive toys, or costly materials are not required. Rather, parents, caregivers, family and community members, actively communicating and playing with them, listening to them attentively, singing and telling stories to them, encouraging them to touch, see, hear, and tasting new things are much more important.

The more we do these activities with children, the better. At the same time, adequate nutrition is also important. Children who get adequate nutrition along with frequent stimulation and interaction develop better than those who do not.

Mothers are often perceived to play the most important role in the holistic development of children. However, the father’s interactions have a big impact on the development of children as well. Studies have shown that when fathers are involved in caring for their children, the children develop better social and emotional skills. They also do better in their education.

So, it is quite evident that parents along with other caregivers of the family and community play a vital role in the development of children.

Disclaimer: The scenes, characters, names, objects, and references featured in the application and videos are for educational and informational purposes only and do not intend to hurt or discriminate against anybody, any community, belief or faith.

For further information, please contact:

UNESCO Dhaka Office

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.unesco.org/dhaka