Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T10:54:14.708Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2020

Pia R. Britto
Affiliation:
Early Childhood Development Program, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA
Suna Hanöz-Penney
Affiliation:
Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV), Istanbul, Turkey John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
Liliana Angelica Ponguta
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Diane Sunar
Affiliation:
Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey
Ghassan Issa
Affiliation:
Arab Resource Collective, Beirut, Lebanon
Sascha D. Hein
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Maria Conceição do Rosário
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Maha A. Almuneef
Affiliation:
King Saud ben Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Irem Korucu
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Yaya Togo
Affiliation:
University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies, Bamako, Mali National Institute of Public Health of Mali
Jamshed Kurbonov
Affiliation:
UNICEF Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Nurlan Choibekov
Affiliation:
International University of Central Asia, Tokmok, Kyrgyz Republic
Hien Thi Thu Phan
Affiliation:
Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
N. Shemrah Fallon
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Bekir B. Artukoğlu
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Franz J. Hartl
Affiliation:
Webmaster, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Rima Salah
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Siobhán Fitzpatrick
Affiliation:
The Early Years—the Organization for Young Children Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Paul Connolly
Affiliation:
Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Laura Dunne
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Sarah Miller
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Kyle Pruett
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
James F. Leckman*
Affiliation:
Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
*
Author for Correspondence: James F. Leckman, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT 06517, USA. E-mail: james.leckman@yale.edu.

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.

Type
Special Issue Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AÇEV—Anne Çocuk Eğitim Vakfi. (2008). Building a generation of reconciliation: The role of early childhood in peace building. Istanbul, Turkey: Mother-Child Education Foundation Publications.Google Scholar
AÇEV—Anne Çocuk Eğitim Vakfi (Mother Child Education Foundation). (2012). Building a generation of reconciliation: The role of early childhood development in peace building. Istanbul, Turkey: Mother-Child Education Foundation Publications.Google Scholar
Al Eissa, M., & Almuneef, M. (2010). Child abuse and neglect in Saudi Arabia: Journey of recognition to implementation of national prevention strategies. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34, 2833. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.08.011CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alzahrani, T. A., Abaalkhail, B. A., & Ramadan, I. K. (2016). Prevalence of intimate partner violence and its associated risk factors among Saudi female patients attending the primary healthcare centers in Western Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 37, 9699. doi:10.15537/smj.2016.1.13135CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bekman, S., & Koçak, A. A. (2011). Beş Ülkeden Anneler Anlatıyor I: Anne-Çocuk Eğitim Programı Kimler İçin ve Neden Etkili? Eğitim ve Bilim, 36, 131144.Google Scholar
Black, M. M., Walker, S. P., Fernald, L. C. H., Andersen, C. T., DiGirolamo, A. M., Lu, C., … Grantham-McGregor, S. (2017). Early childhood development coming of age: Science through the life course. Lancet, 389, 7790. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31389-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Britto, P. R., & Gilliam, W. S. (2008). Crossing borders with Head Start: Commonalities and differences between Head Start and early childhood programs in developing countries. Infants & Young Children, 21, 8291. doi:10.1097/01.IYC.0000306375.25167.3dCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Britto, P., Gordon, I., Hodges, W., Sunar, D., Kağıtçıbaşı, C., & Leckman, J. (2014). Ecology of peace. In Leckman, J. F., Panter-Brick, C. & Salah, R. (Eds.), Pathways to peace: The transformative power of children and families, (pp. 2739). Vol. 15). Cambridge, MA, USA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Britto, P. R., Lye, S. J., Proulx, K., Yousafzai, A. K., Matthews, S. G., Vaivada, T., … Bhutta, Z. A. (2017). Nurturing care: Promoting early childhood development. Lancet, 389, 91102. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31390-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Britto, P. R., Singh, M., Dua, T., Kaur, R., & Yousafzai, A. K. (2018). What implementation evidence matters: Scaling-up nurturing interventions that promote early childhood development. Annuals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1419, 516. doi:10.1111/nyas.13720CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cicchetti, D., & Sroufe, L. A. (2000). The past as prologue to the future: The times, they've been a-changin’. Development & Psychopathology, 12, 255264. doi:10.1017/s0954579400003011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, H., Coll-Seck, A. M., Banerjee, A., Peterson, S., Dalglish, S. L., Ameratunga, S., … Costello, A. (2020). A future for the world's children? A WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 395, 605658. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32540-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Connolly, P., Hayden, J., & Levin, D. (2007). From Conflict to Peace Building: The power of early childhood initiatives. Paper presented at the Lessons from around the World. Redmond, WA: World Forum Foundation.[3, 17–19].Google Scholar
Connolly, P., Miller, S., & Eakin, A. (2010). A cluster randomised trial evaluation of the media initiative for children: Respecting difference programme. Belfast: Centre for Effective Education, Queen's University Belfast.Google Scholar
Daelmans, B., Darmstadt, G. L., Lombardi, J., Black, M. M., Britto, P. R., Lye, S., … Richter, L. M. (2017). Early childhood development: The foundation of sustainable development. The Lancet, 389, 911. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31659-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gatera, G., & Pavarini, G. (2020). The voices of children in the global health debate. The Lancet, 395, 541542. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30364-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Graham, G., Kirollos, M., Knag Fylkesnes, G., Salarkia, K., & Wong, N. (2019). Stop the War on Children: Protecting children in 21st century conflict. Save the Children International. Germany: GmbH & Co.KG.Google Scholar
Greenberg, P.. (2004). Three core concepts of the war on poverty: Their origins and significance in Head Start. In E., Zigler, & S.J., Styfco (Eds.), The Head Start debates (pp. 6184). Baltimore: Brookes Publishing.Google Scholar
Heckman, J. J., Moon, S. H., Pinto, R., Savelyev, P. A., & Yavitz, A. (2010). The rate of return to the HighScope Perry Preschool Program. Journal of Public Economics, 94, 114128. doi:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2009.11.001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heckman, J. J., & Raut, L. K. (2016). Intergenerational long-term effects of preschool-structural estimates from a discrete dynamic programming model. Journal of Econometrics, 191, 164175. doi:10.1016/j.jeconom.2015.10.001CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hein, S., Bick, J., Issa, G., Aoude, L., Maalouf, C., Awar, A., … Ponguta, L. A. (2020). Maternal perceptions of father involvement among refugee and disadvantaged families in Beirut, Lebanon. PloS one, 15, e0229670. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229670CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hillis, S. D., Mercy, J. A., & Saul, J. R. (2017). The enduring impact of violence against children. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 22, 393405. doi:10.1080/13548506.2016.1153679CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
INSTAT. (2019). Sixième Enquête Démographique et de Santé au Mali 2018. Retrieved from Bamako, Mali: www.DHSprogram.com.Google Scholar
Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç, Sunar, D., & Bekman, S. (2001). Long-term effects of early intervention. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 22, 333361. doi:10.1016/S0193-3973(01)00071-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç, Sunar, D., Bekman, S., Baydar, N., & Cemalcilar, Z. (2009). Continuing effects of early enrichment in adult life: The Turkish Early Enrichment Project 22 years later. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30, 764779. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2009.05.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khizar, A. (2016). Youth Leaders for Early Childhood Assuring Children Are Prepared for School (LEAPS). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02645162.Google Scholar
Lakkis, N. A., Osman, M. H., Aoude, L. C., Maalouf, C. J., Issa, H. G., & Issa, G. M. (2020). A pilot intervention to promote positive parenting in refugees from Syria in Lebanon and Jordan. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 257. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00257CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leckman, J. F., Donaldson, C. K., Affolter, F. W., & Ponguta, L. A. (2019). Pathways to wellbeing and a more peaceful and sustainable world: The transformative power of children and families. Japanese Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 60, 278298. doi:10.20615/jscap.60.3_278Google Scholar
Leckman, J. F., Panter-Brick, C., & Salah, R. (2014). Pathways to peace: The transformative power of children and families (Vol. 15). Cambridge, MA, USA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Ponguta, L. A., Aggio, C., Moore, K., Hartwig, E., Jang, B., Markovic, J., … Grover, D. (2019c). Exploratory analysis of decentralized governance and its implications for the equity of early childhood education services in four countries of Europe and Central Asia. Early Years, 39, 326342. doi:10.1080/09575146.2019.1634009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ponguta, L. A., Donaldson, C., Affolter, F., Connolly, P., Dunne, L., Miller, S., … Leckman, J. (2018a). Early childhood development programs, peacebuilding, and the sustainable development goals: Opportunities for interdisciplinary research and multisectoral partnerships. In Developmental science and sustainable development goals for children and youth (pp. 7795). New York, NY: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ponguta, L. A., Issa, G., Aoudeh, L., Maalouf, C., Hein, S. D., Zonderman, A. L., … Awar, A. (2020). Effects of the mother−child education program on parenting stress and disciplinary practices among refugee and other marginalized communities in Lebanon: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59, 727738. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.12.010. Epub 2020 Jan 31. PMID: 32014538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ponguta, L. A., Issa, G., Aoudeh, L., Maalouf, C., Nourallah, S., Khoshnood, K., … Salah, R. (2019a). Implementation evaluation of the Mother-Child Education Program among refugee and other vulnerable communities in Lebanon. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 167, 91116. doi:10.1002/cad.20314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ponguta, L. A., Maldonado-Carreño, C., Kagan, S. L., Yoshikawa, H., Nieto, A. M., Aragón, C. A., … Escallon, E. (2019b). Adaptation and application of the measuring early learning quality and outcomes (MELQO) framework to early childhood education settings in Colombia. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 227, 105112. doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000361CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ponguta, L. A., Rasheed, M. A., Reyes, C. R., & Yousafzai, A. K. (2018b). A conceptual model for youth-led programs as a promising approach to early childhood care and education. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2018, 159, 7189. 2. doi:10.1002/cad.20233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodrigues, N. C. P., O'Dwyer, G., Andrade, M. K. N., Flynn, M. B., Monteiro, D. L. M., & Lino, V. T. S. (2017). The increase in domestic violence in Brazil from 2009-2014. Cien Saude Colet, 22, 28732880. doi:10.1590/1413-81232017229.09902016CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shonkoff, J. P., & Garner, A. S. (2012). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129, e232e246. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2663CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Solodunova, G. (2007). Cartoon takes Kyrgyz children on a ‘Magic Journey’ and teaches life lessons. Cartoon takes Kyrgyz children on a ‘Magic Journey’ and teaches life lessons. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/earlychildhood/kyrgyzstan_37948.html.Google Scholar
Sunar, D., Kagitcibasi, C., Leckman, J., Britto, P., Panter-Brick, C., Pruett, K., … Yazgan, Y. (2013). Is early childhood relevant to peacebuilding? Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, 8, 8185. doi:10.1080/15423166.2013.865493CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tajikistan, U. (2011). Potential for peace and threats of conflict: Development analysis of crossborder communities in Isfara District of the Republic of Tajikistan (Vorukh, Chorkhuh, Surkh, Shurab) and Batken District of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ak-Sai, Ak-Tatyr, and Samarkandek). Retrieved from https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/31527916/potential-for-peace-and-threats-of-conflict-undp-in-tajikistan.Google Scholar
Trilling, D. (2014). Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan: What's next after border shootout? EuasiaNet.org, 13 January 2014, (www.eurasianet.org/node/67934).Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2007). Strong Foundations: Early Childhood Care and Education—EFA Global Monitoring Report 2007. (EFA Global Monitoring Report, 2nd rev. ed.). Paris: France.Google Scholar
United Nations. (2020). About the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.Google Scholar
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2019a). 29 million babies born into conflict in 2018 [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/29-million-babies-born-conflict-2018.Google Scholar
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2019b). UNICEF Model Mothers lead the way for moms and their babies. Retrieved from https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-model-mothers-lead-way-moms-and-their-babies/35959.Google Scholar
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Tajikistan. (2016). UNICEF Annual Report 2016 Tajikistan. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/about/annualreport/files/Tajikistan_2016_COAR.pdf.Google Scholar
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Vietnam. (2018). The Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme 2017-2021 of UNICEF. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/media/3766/file/Baseline%20Assessment%20Report.pdf.Google Scholar
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Vietnam. (2020a). Integrated Early Childhood Development. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/integrated-early-childhood-development.Google Scholar
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Vietnam. (2020b). Early childhood development. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/integrated-early-childhood-development.Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly. (1999). Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace (UN Resolution A/RES/53/243, adopted in September 1999).Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld.Google Scholar
Yousafzai, A. K., Rasheed, M. A., Rizvi, A., Shaheen, F., Ponguta, L. A., & Reyes, C. R. (2018). Effectiveness of a youth-led early childhood care and education programme in rural Pakistan: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. PloS One, 13, e0208335. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208335CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yousafzai, A. K., Rasheed, M. A., Siyal, S., Franchett, E., Sudfeld, C., Ponguta, L. A.. (2019). LEAPS: A strategy to benefit young children and youth 2019, 102105. https://earlychildhoodmatters.online/2019/leaps-a-strategy-to-benefit-young-children-and-youth/.Google Scholar
Zigler, E., & Anderson, K. (1979). An idea whose time had come: The intellectual and political climate for Head Start. In Zigler, E. & Valentine, J. (Eds.), Project Head Start: A legacy of the war on poverty (pp. 319). New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Zigler, E. F., & Hall, N. W. (2000). Child development and social policy: Theory and applications. Boston: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Zigler, E., & Styfco, S. J. (2002). A life lived at the crossroads of knowledge and children's policy. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 98, 515. doi:10.1002/cd.54CrossRefGoogle Scholar