Pathways to a more peaceful and sustainable world: The transformative power of children in families

Abstract

This article provides an overview of selected ongoing international efforts that have been inspired by Edward Zigler's vision to improve programs and policies for young children and families in the United States. The efforts presented are in close alignment with three strategies articulated by Edward Zigler: (a) conduct research that will inform policy advocacy; (b) design, implement, and revise quality early childhood development (ECD) programs; and (c) invest in building the next generation of scholars and advocates in child development. The intergenerational legacy left by Edward Zigler has had an impact on young children not only in the United States, but also across the globe. More needs to be done. We need to work together with a full commitment to ensure the optimal development of each child.

Effects of the Global Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic on Early Childhood Development: Short- and Long-Term Risks and Mitigating Program and Policy Actions

“…Here, we highlight the efforts of the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ecdan.org); announced by World Bank and UNICEF, endorsed by the G20, and with thousands of members and the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ecdpeace.org), which aims to build a more peaceful and sustainable world by investing in ECD programs and empowering youth to become agents of change across generations. 64,65 We especially recommend that funding agencies such as the World Bank further strengthen support to nations to invest in ECD programs as a pathway to peace and sustainability. We are confident that this will strengthen nations' ability to facilitate economic and social recovery.…”

Parents’ experiences of home-schooling amid COVID-19 school closures, in London, England

“…Extraordinary measures were taken by the Westminster government and schools, to ensure that schools' vulnerable learners from families on a low-income were still able to benefit from these free school meals (Weale, 2020). Britto et al (2021) argued that children were the hidden victims of COVID-19, resulting from school closures, a negative impact on their cognitive and socio-emotional development, changes to their nutritional status and access to basic health services. Primary and nursery schools reopened in June 2020.…”

“…Well-being encompassed many dimensions, comprising several multi-disciplines, such as, fitness of the body, mind and spirit (Dodge et al, 2012). Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the emphasis was to monitor the well-being status of children (Britto et al, 2021) and their nutritional health (Davison et al, 2021; Musgrave and Payler, 2021).…”

“…A review of the literature revealed a steady stream of research relating to children’s well-being (Britto et al, 2021; Davison et al, 2021) and the struggles of teachers adapting their delivery methods to online teaching through securing home-school partnerships (Kidd and Murray, 2020).…”

“…The literature surrounding home-schooling, well-being and COVID-19 had focussed on either the financial impact or the state of children’s well-being (Britto et al, 2021), the impact on their cogitative development (Nutbrown et al, 2017) and their nutritional health (Musgrave and Payler, 2021). Therefore, a gap exists in the literature relating to the well-being of parent-carers, in particular, from middle-income households, amid the two school closures in England, which this research attempted to address.…”