The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development (edX)

Learn the answers to these questions and more in "The Best Start in Life: Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development". With leading experts in the field – hailing from Harvard University, New York University and UNICEF, among other institutions – we’ll explore how neuroscience, sociology, anthropology and other studies have influenced our understanding of early childhood development.

This course is for:

- Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in international development, teaching, nursing and medicine, and other fields who are interested in the key concepts and practices in early childhood development

- Teachers, healthcare professionals and other practitioners interested in the societal and biological factors impacting the children they support

- Sustainable development practitioners who want to understand the lifecycle of needs and support necessary to help children globally, including those who work for international aid organizations and nonprofits in the realms of poverty, nutrition and education

What you'll learn

- All about the brain: how neurological makeup affects children’s development

- The intersection of childcare, education and other programming with policies at the national level and beyond

- Case studies: how factors such as forced migration impact a child’s future

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction

Early Childhood Development for Sustainable Development

The State of the World's Children

How Brain Architecture Develops

The Impact of Adversity & Toxic Stress

Resilience & How to Foster It

Module 2: Child Development: Prenatal to Age 3

Development in Culture & Context

Physical Development

Cognitive Development and Perception

Language Development

Social Development

Emotional Development & Temperament

Module 3: Child Development: Ages 3 to 8

Physical Development

Cognitive Development & Executive Function

Language

Socio-emotional Development

Module 4: Tour of ECD Programs and Sectors Part I

Introduction to Multi-sector Aspects

Health Programs

Nutrition & Parenting Programs

Module 5: Tour of ECD Programs and Sectors Part 2

Social Protection Programs

Early Care & Education Programs

Child Protection Programs

Module 6: Communities and Situations of Conflict and Migration

Uganda Case Study

Community Based Programs

Conflict & Migration

Module 7: From Programs to Policies

How is Policy Created?

Quality, Governance & Sustainability

Financing ECD Policies

Module 8: The Future: Innovations and Growth

Innovation in ECD

Innovation from Around the World

Conclusion: The Future of ECD