Nurturing Care: A Holistic Approach to Early Childhood Development

Year 2023, Volume: 23 Issue: 2, 179 - 184, 30.06.2023

Serap Sapmaz

https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2023.1133148

Abstract

Early childhood (ECC) is the main period of cognitive development, physical and mental health in children. The well-being of future generations depends on early childhood development and care. Poverty, malnutrition, violence, gender inequality, environmental pollution and caregiver mental health problems threaten the development of young children and prevent them from being physically and mentally healthy, being happy, having positive relationships and being productive adults. Nurturing Care (NC) is a policy framework proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other stakeholders, aimed at achieving national and global goals to help children survive and thrive, in order to transform health and human potential. Its components are health, adequate nutrition, responsive care, early learning opportunities and safety. NC aims to provide family-centered, holistic services to each child, especially in the first three years of life, starting from pregnancy. The aim of this review is to increase the awareness of NC in Turkey and to share studies from other countries.

Keywords

Nurturing Care, Early Childhood, Development, Health, Nutrition, Early Learning, Responsive Caregiving, Safety

Geliştiren Bakım: Erken Çocukluk Çağına Bütüncül Yaklaşım

Abstract

Erken çocukluk çağı (EÇÇ); çocuklarda bilişsel gelişim, beden ve ruh sağlığı temellerinin atıldığı dönemdir. Gelecek nesillerin refah düzeyinin, EÇÇ dönemindeki bakım ve erken öğrenme fırsatlarına bağlı olduğu düşünülmektedir. Yoksulluk, yetersiz beslenme, şiddet, cinsiyet eşitsizliği, çevre kirliliği ve bakım verenin ruh sağlığı sorunları çocukların gelişimini tehdit etmekte, fiziksel ve zihinsel olarak sağlıklı olmalarını, mutlu olmalarını, olumlu ilişkiler kurmalarını ve üretken yetişkinler olmalarını engellemektedir. Geliştiren Bakım (GB); Dünya Sağlık Örgütü (DSÖ), UNICEF ve diğer paydaşlarca önerilen, ulusal ve küresel düzeyde ulaşılması hedeflenen, sağlık ve insani potansiyeli dönüştürmek için çocukların hayatta kalması ve gelişmesine destek olacak bir politika çerçevesidir. Bileşenleri sağlık, yeterli beslenme, duyarlı bakım, erken öğrenme fırsatları ve güvenliktir. Bu bileşenler doğrultusunda gebelikten itibaren yaşamın özellikle ilk üç yılında aile merkezli, bütüncül hizmetlerin sunulması ve her çocuğun yaşamına en iyi başlangıcı yapması hedeflenmektedir. Derlemenin amacı ülkemizde GB farkındalığını artırmak ve diğer ülkelerin çalışmalarının paylaşılmasıdır.

Keywords

Geliştiren Bakım, Çocuk Sağlığı, Beslenme, Erken Öğrenme Fırsatları, Duyarlı Bakım, Güvenlik, Çocuk Gelişimi

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