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Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2020) | Viewed by 59712

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Verónica Schiariti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Medical Sciences，University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
Interests: Dr. Schiariti is a physician-scientist whose work bridges clinical research and international child health. For more than 10 years, she worked with children with developmental disabilities in community and tertiary-level rehabilitation centers as a developmental pediatrician. As a researcher, her primary interest has been promoting an abilities-oriented approach in assessments and evaluations of children and youths with neurodevelopmental disabilities, guided by WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the early years of life, the environments that interact with a child—including families, schools, and communities—play a key role in the child’s brain development. Early child development and overall children’s developmental trajectories have long-term implications for health, happiness, and earning potential as these children become adults. Importantly, failing to reach developmental potential contributes to global cycles of poverty, inequality, and social exclusion. There is little public understanding of the importance of children’s first years and the critical developmental opportunity to reach optimal functioning. As such, global data on early child developments are crucial to inform the public and demand evidence-based policies and high-quality programs for children around the world.

This Special Issue seeks papers on early child development, including those on assessing the impact of programs and interventions related to children’s health, education, and participation that could inform evidence-based policies around the world. International representation of studies is highly sought. Methodological and implementation studies will be considered. High-quality narrative and systematic reviews will also be considered.

Dr. Verónica Schiariti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Child development
  • Child health
  • Functioning
  • International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health
  • Outcomes
  • Participation
  • Social inclusion
  • Children rights
  • Education
  • Social services
  • Measurement
  • Functional indicators
  • Screening
  • Surveillance
  • Environmental interventions
  • Empowerment
  • Equality
  • Evidence-based policy

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

4 pages, 270 KiB  
Editorial
Introduction to the Special Issue on Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-Based Policy
by Verónica Schiariti
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5154; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18105154 - 13 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1946
Abstract
Early child development and overall children’s developmental trajectories have long-term implications for health, functioning, and earning potential as these children become adults [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

19 pages, 2949 KiB  
Article
Validation of the Infant and Young Child Development (IYCD) Indicators in Three Countries: Brazil, Malawi and Pakistan
by Melissa Gladstone, Gillian Lancaster, Gareth McCray, Vanessa Cavallera, Claudia R. L. Alves, Limbika Maliwichi, Muneera A. Rasheed, Tarun Dua, Magdalena Janus and Patricia Kariger
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 6117; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18116117 - 06 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3689
Abstract
Background: The early childhood years provide an important window of opportunity to build strong foundations for future development. One impediment to global progress is a lack of population-based measurement tools to provide reliable estimates of developmental status. We aimed to field test and [...] Read more.
Background: The early childhood years provide an important window of opportunity to build strong foundations for future development. One impediment to global progress is a lack of population-based measurement tools to provide reliable estimates of developmental status. We aimed to field test and validate a newly created tool for this purpose. Methods: We assessed attainment of 121 Infant and Young Child Development (IYCD) items in 269 children aged 0–3 from Pakistan, Malawi and Brazil alongside socioeconomic status (SES), maternal educational, Family Care Indicators and anthropometry. Children born premature, malnourished or with neurodevelopmental problems were excluded. We assessed inter-rater and test-retest reliability as well as understandability of items. Each item was analyzed using logistic regression taking SES, anthropometry, gender and FCI as covariates. Consensus choice of final items depended on developmental trajectory, age of attainment, invariance, reliability and acceptability between countries. Results: The IYCD has 100 developmental items (40 gross/fine motor, 30 expressive/receptive language/cognitive, 20 socio-emotional and 10 behavior). Items were acceptable, performed well in cognitive testing, had good developmental trajectories and high reliability across countries. Development for Age (DAZ) scores showed very good known-groups validity. Conclusions: The IYCD is a simple-to-use caregiver report tool enabling population level assessment of child development for children aged 0–3 years which performs well across three countries on three continents to provide reliable estimates of young children’s developmental status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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22 pages, 1370 KiB  
Article
Communicative Interaction with and without Eye-Gaze Technology between Children and Youths with Complex Needs and Their Communication Partners
by Yu-Hsin Hsieh, Maria Borgestig, Deepika Gopalarao, Joy McGowan, Mats Granlund, Ai-Wen Hwang and Helena Hemmingsson
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5134; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18105134 - 12 May 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4061
Abstract
Use of eye-gaze assistive technology (EGAT) provides children/youths with severe motor and speech impairments communication opportunities by using eyes to control a communication interface on a computer. However, knowledge about how using EGAT contributes to communication and influences dyadic interaction remains limited. Aim: [...] Read more.
Use of eye-gaze assistive technology (EGAT) provides children/youths with severe motor and speech impairments communication opportunities by using eyes to control a communication interface on a computer. However, knowledge about how using EGAT contributes to communication and influences dyadic interaction remains limited. Aim: By video-coding dyadic interaction sequences, this study investigates the impacts of employing EGAT, compared to the Non-EGAT condition on the dyadic communicative interaction. Method: Participants were six dyads with children/youths aged 4–19 years having severe physical disabilities and complex communication needs. A total of 12 film clips of dyadic communication activities with and without EGAT in natural contexts were included. Based on a systematic coding scheme, dyadic communication behaviors were coded to determine the interactional structure and communicative functions. Data were analyzed using a three-tiered method combining group and individual analysis. Results: When using EGAT, children/youths increased initiations in communicative interactions and tended to provide more information, while communication partners made fewer communicative turns, initiations, and requests compared to the Non-EGAT condition. Communication activities, eye-control skills, and communication abilities could influence dyadic interaction. Conclusion: Use of EGAT shows potential to support communicative interaction by increasing children’s initiations and intelligibility, and facilitating symmetrical communication between dyads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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18 pages, 2119 KiB  
Article
Developing a Culturally Sensitive ICF-Based Tool to Describe Functioning of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: TEA-CIFunciona Version 1.0 Pilot Study
by Silvana B. Napoli, María Paula Vitale, Pablo J. Cafiero, María Belén Micheletti, Paula Pedernera Bradichansky, Celina Lejarraga, Maria Gabriela Urinovsky, Anabella Escalante, Estela Rodriguez and Verónica Schiariti
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3720; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073720 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4146
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects the daily functioning of children and their families; however, in Argentina, there are no standardized tools to guide the description, evaluation, and follow-up of functioning and disability of children with ASD. To fill this gap, the overarching [...] Read more.
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects the daily functioning of children and their families; however, in Argentina, there are no standardized tools to guide the description, evaluation, and follow-up of functioning and disability of children with ASD. To fill this gap, the overarching purpose of this study was to create a novel tool guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Core Sets for ASD for clinical practice. Methods: A multistep methodology was used to identify the most relevant ICF categories for an Argentinian clinical setting. The content of this ICF-based shortlist was piloted and revised according to the results. Subsequently, a toolbox of measures was proposed to operationalize each ICF category. Finally, profiles of the functioning of 100 children with ASD were created. Results: An ICF-based tool called TEA-CIFunciona was created, consisting of 32 ICF categories (10 body functions, 15 activities and participation, 7 environmental factors categories). The application of TEA-CIFunciona incorporated a family-centered approach in ASD evaluations and helped identify functional needs. Conclusions: TEA-CIFunciona is the first ICF-based instrument that guides the description of functioning of children with ASD in Argentina. TEA-CIFunciona standardizes collaborative assessments in pediatric ASD populations in Latin American contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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19 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
Exploring Factors That Could Potentially Have Affected the First 1000 Days of Absent Learners in South Africa: A Qualitative Study
by Carien van Zyl and Carlien van Wyk
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2768; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18052768 - 09 Mar 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3062
Abstract
Background: The first 1000 days of life—from conception to the second birthday of children —is widely recognized as the most crucial development phase, which could have long lasting effects on the health and well-being of children throughout their lives. Purpose: The purpose of [...] Read more.
Background: The first 1000 days of life—from conception to the second birthday of children —is widely recognized as the most crucial development phase, which could have long lasting effects on the health and well-being of children throughout their lives. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore and describe factors that could potentially have affected the first 1000 days of absent learners in the Foundation Phase within the Paarl-East community in the Western Cape of South Africa. Methods: The data for this qualitative descriptive study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 biological mothers of absent learners in the Foundation Phase, who resided in Paarl East. The transcribed texts were analyzed by making use of a thematic data analysis. Results: The findings revealed six predominant themes that played a role during the first 1000 days of the lives of these absent learners. Conclusion: It was concluded from the findings in this study that factors, such as health and nutrition of both the mothers and their children, substance use/abuse during pregnancy, toxic stress, support received by the mothers and their children, attachment, attentive care, and stimulation and play, could have affected the first 1000 days of the absent learners in this study. Since this study did not aim to confirm a correlation between the first 1000 days and absenteeism, but solely to explore factors affecting the first 1000 days, conclusions regarding cause and effect was not possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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9 pages, 301 KiB  
Article
Stability of the Communication Function Classification System among Children with Cerebral Palsy in South Korea
by Eun-Young Park
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1881; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18041881 - 15 Feb 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1925
Abstract
Interest in the prognosis of skill levels has been an important issue among children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to verify the stability of the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) in 2- to 18-year-old children with CP. Data collected from 171 [...] Read more.
Interest in the prognosis of skill levels has been an important issue among children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to verify the stability of the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) in 2- to 18-year-old children with CP. Data collected from 171 children with CP who received rehabilitation therapy in hospitals or attended special elementary schools in South Korea were reviewed. They were divided into two groups, children <4 years and children ≥4 years. Participants were evaluated over 1-year and 2-year intervals from the first rating. Agreement between the three measurements and the weighted kappa were analyzed. At the 1-year interval, results demonstrated a high agreement rate of the CFCS in children ≥4 years old, and during the 2-year interval the study revealed a low agreement rate in children aged 2–4 years. The results indicated the stability of the CFCS in children ≥4 years old but some change of the CFCS in 2- to 4-year-old children. Moreover, the findings suggested that the change of the CFCS varied with time and age. Based on these results, it is recommended that the CFCS assessments be performed periodically, especially among 2- to 4-year-old children with CP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
15 pages, 876 KiB  
Article
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of an Observational Measure for Parent–Child Responsive Caregiving
by Alessandra Schneider, Michelle Rodrigues, Olesya Falenchuk, Tiago N. Munhoz, Aluisio J. D. Barros, Joseph Murray, Marlos R. Domingues and Jennifer M. Jenkins
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(3), 1246; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18031246 - 30 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3341
Abstract
Responsive caregiving is the dimension of parenting most consistently related to later child functioning in both developing and developed countries. There is a growing need for efficient, psychometrically sound and culturally appropriate measurement of this construct. This study describes the cross-cultural validation in [...] Read more.
Responsive caregiving is the dimension of parenting most consistently related to later child functioning in both developing and developed countries. There is a growing need for efficient, psychometrically sound and culturally appropriate measurement of this construct. This study describes the cross-cultural validation in Brazil of the Responsive Interactions for Learning (RIFL-P) measure, requiring only eight minutes for assessment and coding. The cross-cultural adaptation used a recognized seven-step procedure. The adapted version was applied to a stratified sample of 153 Brazilian mother–child (18 months) dyads. Videos of mother–child interaction were coded using the RIFL-P and a longer gold standard parenting assessment. Mothers completed a survey on child stimulation (18 months) and child outcomes were measured at 24 months. Internal consistency (α = 0.94), inter-rater reliability (r = 0.83), and intra-rater reliability (r = 0.94) were all satisfactory to high. RIFL-P scores were significantly correlated with another measurement of parenting (r’s ranged from 0.32 to 0.47, p < 0.001), stimulation markers (r = 0.34, p < 0.01), and children’s cognition (r = 0.29, p < 0.001), language (r = 0.28, p < 0.001), and positive behavior (r = 0.17, p < 0.05). The Brazilian Portuguese version is a valid and reliable instrument for a brief assessment of responsive caregiving. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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11 pages, 1790 KiB  
Article
Identification of Growth Patterns in Low Birth Weight Infants from Birth to 5 Years of Age: Nationwide Korean Cohort Study
by So Jin Yoon, Joohee Lim, Jung Ho Han, Jeong Eun Shin, Soon Min Lee, Ho Seon Eun, Min Soo Park and Kook In Park
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(3), 1206; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18031206 - 29 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2924
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the nationwide growth pattern of infants in Korea according to the birth-weight group and to analyze the effect of growth on development. A total of 430,541 infants, born in 2013 and who received the infant health check-up regularly [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the nationwide growth pattern of infants in Korea according to the birth-weight group and to analyze the effect of growth on development. A total of 430,541 infants, born in 2013 and who received the infant health check-up regularly from 6 months to 60 months of age, were included. The weight, height, head circumferences percentiles, and neurodevelopment using screening tests results were compared among the birth-weight groups. Using longitudinal analysis, the study found a significant difference in height, weight, and head circumference, respectively, according to age at health check-up, birth weight group, and combination of age and birth weight (p < 0.001). The growth parameters at 60 months of age showed a significant correlation with those at 6 months of age especially in extremely low birth weight infants. The incidence of suspected developmental delay was significantly higher in infants with growth below the 10th percentiles than in those with growth above the 10th percentiles. Among 4571 (1.6%) infants with suspected developmental delay results at 60 months of age, birth weight, sex, and poor growth parameters were confirmed as associated factors. This nationwide Korean study shows that poor growth and neurodevelopment outcomes persisted among low-birth-weight infants at 60 months of age. Our findings provide guidance for developing a nationwide follow-up program for infants with perinatal risk factors in Korea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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18 pages, 380 KiB  
Article
Does Maternal Depression Undermine Childhood Cognitive Development? Evidence from the Young Lives Survey in Peru
by Magdalena Bendini and Lelys Dinarte
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(19), 7248; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17197248 - 03 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2599
Abstract
This paper studies the effect of maternal depression on early childhood cognition in Peru, where rates of depression are around 50%. By using an instrumental variables approach, this study exploits variation in the exogeneity of the exposure to shocks during early life to [...] Read more.
This paper studies the effect of maternal depression on early childhood cognition in Peru, where rates of depression are around 50%. By using an instrumental variables approach, this study exploits variation in the exogeneity of the exposure to shocks during early life to instrument for maternal depression. The empirical strategy exploits a novel longitudinal data—the Young Lives survey—that includes information on cognitive outcomes of children and variation in their mothers’ mental health status between rounds of data collection. Results suggest that maternal depression is detrimental to a child’s vocabulary at age 5, but effects fade out by age 8. Effects do not vary by maternal education but are significant only for children living in disadvantaged households. Estimations indicate that the presence of a partner worsens the effect of maternal depression on vocabulary development, results that are driven mainly by households with heavy-drinking partners. Our findings make a strong case for recognizing maternal mental health problems as disorders of public health significance and guide maternal and infant health policies in Peru. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
14 pages, 1188 KiB  
Article
Vision Development Differences between Slow and Fast Motor Development in Typical Developing Toddlers: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Elena Pinero-Pinto, Verónica Pérez-Cabezas, Concepción De-Hita-Cantalejo, Carmen Ruiz-Molinero, Estanislao Gutiérrez-Sánchez, José-Jesús Jiménez-Rejano, José-María Sánchez-González and María Carmen Sánchez-González
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(10), 3597; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17103597 - 20 May 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6466
Abstract
Many studies have established a relationship between visual function and motor development in toddlers. This is the first report to study two-year-olds via an assessment of their visual and motor skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the possible changes that [...] Read more.
Many studies have established a relationship between visual function and motor development in toddlers. This is the first report to study two-year-olds via an assessment of their visual and motor skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the possible changes that can occur between visual and motor systems in typical developing toddlers. A total of 116 toddlers were included in this observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Their mean age was 29.57 ± 3.45 months. Motor development variables studied were dominant hand/foot; stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, visual motor integration percentiles; gross motor, fine motor, and total motor percentiles; and gross motor, fine motor, and total motor quotients. Visual development variables were assessed including visual acuity, refractive error, ocular alignment, motor fusion and suppression, ocular motility, and stereopsis. Our findings demonstrated that typical developing toddlers with slow gross motor development had higher exophoria and further near point of convergence values compared to toddlers with fast gross motor development (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in visual acuity and stereopsis between slow and fast gross motor development toddlers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

15 pages, 378 KiB  
Review
Population-Level Data on Child Development at School Entry Reflecting Social Determinants of Health: A Narrative Review of Studies Using the Early Development Instrument
by Magdalena Janus, Caroline Reid-Westoby, Noam Raiter, Barry Forer and Martin Guhn
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3397; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073397 - 25 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3509
Abstract
Background: The Early Development Instrument (EDI) was developed as a population-level assessment of children’s developmental health at school entry. EDI data collection has created unprecedented opportunities for population-level studies on children’s developmental outcomes. The goal of this narrative review was to synthesize research [...] Read more.
Background: The Early Development Instrument (EDI) was developed as a population-level assessment of children’s developmental health at school entry. EDI data collection has created unprecedented opportunities for population-level studies on children’s developmental outcomes. The goal of this narrative review was to synthesize research using the EDI to describe how it contributes to expanding the understanding of the impacts of social determinants on child development and how it applies to special populations. Methods: Select studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals between 2015 and 2020 and incorporating the social determinants of health perspectives were chosen to highlight the capability of the EDI to monitor children’s developmental health and contribute knowledge in the area of early childhood development. Results: A number of studies have examined the association between several social determinants of health and children’s developmental outcomes, including hard-to-reach and low-frequency populations of children. The EDI has also been used to evaluate programs and interventions in different countries. Conclusions: The ability of the EDI to monitor children’s developmental outcomes in various populations has been consistently demonstrated. The EDI, by virtue of its comprehensive breadth and census-like collection, widens the scope of research relating to early childhood development and its social determinants of health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
15 pages, 527 KiB  
Review
Promoting Developmental Potential in Early Childhood: A Global Framework for Health and Education
by Verónica Schiariti, Rune J. Simeonsson and Karen Hall
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2007; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18042007 - 19 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3702
Abstract
In the early years of life, children’s interactions with the physical and social environment- including families, schools and communities—play a defining role in developmental trajectories with long-term implications for their health, well-being and earning potential as they become adults. Importantly, failing to reach [...] Read more.
In the early years of life, children’s interactions with the physical and social environment- including families, schools and communities—play a defining role in developmental trajectories with long-term implications for their health, well-being and earning potential as they become adults. Importantly, failing to reach their developmental potential contributes to global cycles of poverty, inequality, and social exclusion. Guided by a rights-based approach, this narrative review synthesizes selected studies and global initiatives promoting early child development and proposes a universal intervention framework of child-environment interactions to optimize children’s developmental functioning and trajectories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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14 pages, 1713 KiB  
Review
Early Child Development Assessments and Their Associations with Long-Term Academic and Economic Outcomes: A Systematic Review
by Leah N. Isquith-Dicker, Andrew Kwist, Danae Black, Stephen E. Hawes, Jennifer Slyker, Sharon Bergquist and Susanne P. Martin-Herz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1538; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18041538 - 05 Feb 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3892
Abstract
Developmental screening instruments were designed as diagnostic tools, but there is growing interest in understanding whether select tools can also be used systematically in research to examine intervention impacts on long-term outcomes. As such, this systematic review aims to examine associations between child [...] Read more.
Developmental screening instruments were designed as diagnostic tools, but there is growing interest in understanding whether select tools can also be used systematically in research to examine intervention impacts on long-term outcomes. As such, this systematic review aims to examine associations between child development assessment tools and educational attainment, academic achievement, or wealth. We included studies identified in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Educational Resources Information Center if they reported an association between at least one tool from a pre-established list and one outcome of interest after age 10. Of 597 studies identified, 11 met inclusion criteria; three examined educational attainment as the outcome of interest, six examined academic achievement, one wealth, and one both educational attainment and wealth. Intelligence tests were utilized in five of the included studies, neuropsychological/executive function or behavior tools were used in five, and one study used tools across the domains. High-quality studies were identified across all three of the domains, but educational attainment and wealth had the greatest proportion of high-quality studies, as compared to academic achievement. Our review demonstrates the potential for certain child development assessment tools to adequately assess long-term outcomes of interest, but additional prospective studies using validated, culturally appropriate tools are needed. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018092292. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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Other

10 pages, 4423 KiB  
Perspective
Crisis Brings Innovative Strategies: Collaborative Empathic Teleintervention for Children with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Lockdown
by Verónica Schiariti and Robin A. McWilliam
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1749; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18041749 - 11 Feb 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3782
Abstract
Background: While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread across the globe, public health strategies—including the social distancing measures that many countries have implemented— have caused disruptions to daily routines. For children with disabilities and their families, such measures mean a lack of [...] Read more.
Background: While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread across the globe, public health strategies—including the social distancing measures that many countries have implemented— have caused disruptions to daily routines. For children with disabilities and their families, such measures mean a lack of access to the resources they usually have through schools and habilitation or rehabilitation services. Health emergencies, like the current COVID-19 pandemic, require innovative strategies to ensure continuity of care. The objective of this perspective paper is to propose the adoption of two innovative strategies for teleintervention. Methods: The novel strategies include: (1) to apply the principles of the Routines-Based Model beyond the early years of development, and (2) to adopt My Abilities First—which is a novel educational tool promoting an abilities-oriented approach in healthcare encounters. Results: In the context of COVID-19, and using accessible language, the content of the paper highlights what is important for families and individuals with disabilities, and how the proposed novel strategies could be useful delivering remote support. Conclusions: The principles of the Routines-Based Model and My Abilities First are universal and facilitate collaborative, empathic, family-centered teleintervention for children and youth with disabilities during and post the COVID-19 lockdown. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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19 pages, 1738 KiB  
Project Report
The Routines-Based Model Internationally Implemented
by R. A. McWilliam, Tânia Boavida, Kerry Bull, Margarita Cañadas, Ai-Wen Hwang, Natalia Józefacka, Hong Huay Lim, Marisú Pedernera, Tamara Sergnese and Julia Woodward
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8308; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17228308 - 10 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5105
Abstract
Professionals from 10 countries are implementing practices from the Routines-Based Model, which has three main components: needs assessment and intervention planning, a consultative approach, and a method for running classrooms. Its hallmark practices are the Routines-Based Interview, support-based visits with families, and a [...] Read more.
Professionals from 10 countries are implementing practices from the Routines-Based Model, which has three main components: needs assessment and intervention planning, a consultative approach, and a method for running classrooms. Its hallmark practices are the Routines-Based Interview, support-based visits with families, and a focus on child engagement. Implementers were interested in actual practices for putting philosophy and theory into action in their systems and cultures. We describe implementation challenges and successes and conclude that (a) models have to be adaptable, (b) some principles and practices are indeed universal, (c) we can shape excellent practices for international use, and (d) leadership is vital. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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12 pages, 3058 KiB  
Protocol
Go Zika Go: A Feasibility Protocol of a Modified Ride-on Car Intervention for Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome in Brazil
by Egmar Longo, Ana Carolina De Campos, Amanda Spinola Barreto, Dinara Laiana de Lima Nascimento Coutinho, Monique Leite Galvão Coelho, Carolina Corsi, Karolinne Souza Monteiro and Samuel Wood Logan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6875; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17186875 - 21 Sep 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3402
Abstract
Children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) present severe motor disability and can benefit from early powered mobility. The Go Zika Go project uses modified ride-on toy cars, which may advance the body functions, activities, and participation of children. This paper describes the study [...] Read more.
Children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) present severe motor disability and can benefit from early powered mobility. The Go Zika Go project uses modified ride-on toy cars, which may advance the body functions, activities, and participation of children. This paper describes the study protocol aiming to assess the feasibility of a modified ride-on car intervention for children with CZS in Brazil. A mixed-methods design with a multiple 1-week baseline, 3-month intervention, and 1-month follow-up will be implemented. Modified ride-on car training sessions will be conducted three times a week at the participants’ home or in the clinic. The primary outcome will be a narrative description of study feasibility (photovoice method, focus groups, parent feasibility questionnaire and assessment of learning powered mobility). Secondary outcomes will be switch activation, driving sessions journal, social-cognitive interactions, mobility (pediatric evaluation of disability inventory computer adaptive test), goal attainment scaling (GAS), and participation (young children’s participation and environment measure). Go Zika Go is expected to be viable and to improve function, activity, and participation of children with CZS, providing a low-cost, evidence-based rehabilitation option that will be relevant to early child development in a global perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Child Development: From Measurement to Optimal Functioning and Evidence-based Policy)
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