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Parenting talk reveals the importance of quality Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Abu Dhabi, 30 September 2014: According to Dr. Walter Gilliam, Director of Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University Child Study Center, studies have shown that children who receive high-quality early education tend to have 59% greater earnings, are nearly 3 times as likely to own a home, and 31% more likely to have achieved higher education.

As the speaker of the Parenting Talk titled ‘The Importance of Early Childhood Development Programs’ hosted by Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, in collaboration with Yale University, Dr. Gilliam described the lasting impact of a high-quality early childhood development program.

“The first few years of life are crucial for setting a strong or fragile foundation for all later learning, wellbeing and happiness,” he said. “This can be seen through brain images of children at 3 years old. The children that face neglect in early years have smaller brain matter due to poor synaptic development.”
From a policy perspective, the talk also highlighted the data and studies that reflect not only do children and families benefit, but governmental spheres also gain from the widespread provision of early childhood education. This is in terms of more effective human capital formation, better mental and physical health, higher earning for families, and reduced violence and criminality.
 
“In accordance with Abu Dhabi government’s aspirations to become into an innovative knowledge producing society, by recognizing quality education as the first priority, the Foundation is focused on developing children’s capabilities early on,” said Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan, leader and patron of the Foundation’s Early Childhood Development program.
 
“This is because the strongest base of such an economy lies in early childhood education,” she added.
Tailored for parents, professionals of ECD, and the UAE community at large; the talk armed the attendees with the information they need for the best child care and early education decisions for their young children. In its widespread approach to support and empower parents of young children in the UAE, the talk took place in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

The Parenting Talks run from 29 September 2014 till 18 May 2015 and will cover topics such as ‘Can’t you get along? Parenting your children beyond sibling rivalry,’ ‘Bullying Experience in Youth: Nature and Intervention’, ‘Becoming a parent’, and ‘Children, Parents and the Media: Friend or foe for families in the digital and wireless age’.

The talk was held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island Cultural District in Abu Dhabi on 29 September 2014 and at the Al Ain Municipality Auditorium on 30 September 2014.