Description
Early Child Development is a period of great risks and opportunities. During the first years of life child development is very intensive, dynamic, and complex, influenced by the interplay of a wide array of biological and environmental factors.
Most children follow a typical trajectory of development across the domains of physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development. However, some children may be at risk of not developing to their full potential due to lack of nurturing care, health-related or biological conditions.
Health systems have the greatest potential to identify children at risk of developmental difficulties and support early childhood intervention. This webinar introduced participants to developmental monitoring as part of routine health care services for children. It explored:
- The key concepts, definitions and principles of developmental monitoring, approaches to its implementation and key considerations related to human resources, work processes, selection of tools and the role that health systems play in the process.
- How developmental monitoring is organised in some countries:
• Scotland: use of Ages and Stages Questionaries (ASQ) as part of health visiting for young children and families.
• Portugal: use of Mary Sheridan’s based milestones as a part of routine developmental monitoring and as a part of health information system.
• Azerbaijan: use of Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD), adaptation and integration in the primary health care
• Slovakia: use of an online platform with developmental milestones for parents and professionals.
