HLTC05H3 Study Guide - Prenatal Development
Document Summary
Worldwide, 10 million children die each year before their fifth birthday. Equally important, at least 200 million children are not achieving their full developmental potential, with huge implications for their health and for society at large. Experiences in early childhood (defined as prenatal development to 8 years of age), and in early and later education, lay critical foundations for the entire lifecourse. It is better for the individual child, andfor society in rich and poor countries alike to provide a positive start, rather than having to resort to remedial action later on. The science of ecd shows that brain development is highly sensitive to external influences in early childhood, starting in utero, with lifelong effects. The conditions to which children are exposed, including the quality of relationships and language environment, literally sculpt" the developing brain. Educational attainment is linked to improved health outcomes, partly through its effects on adult income, employment, and living conditions.
