The paper synthesizes evidence from neuroscience, biology, and public health to explain how early experiences influence the development and interaction of multiple body systems, including the immune, metabolic, and stress response systems. It demonstrates how early adversity can contribute to preventable chronic diseases and mental health conditions later in life. The analysis links ECD directly to long‑term health outcomes and health system costs.

The report examines how child development monitoring is integrated into primary health care services across countries in Europe and Central Asia. It reviews existing policies, practices, and tools used to assess developmental progress in early childhood, identifying both strengths and gaps. The publication emphasizes the importance of early detection, timely referral, and continuity of care within routine health services. It provides practical directions to strengthen systems, workforce capacity, and data use to support early childhood development.

The report examines how child development monitoring is integrated into primary health care services across countries in Europe and Central Asia. It reviews existing policies, practices, and tools used to assess developmental progress in early childhood, identifying both strengths and gaps. The publication emphasizes the importance of early detection, timely referral, and continuity of care within routine health services. It provides practical directions to strengthen systems, workforce capacity, and data use to support early childhood development.

The report examines how child development monitoring is integrated into primary health care services across countries in Europe and Central Asia. It reviews existing policies, practices, and tools used to assess developmental progress in early childhood, identifying both strengths and gaps. The publication emphasizes the importance of early detection, timely referral, and continuity of care within routine health services. It provides practical directions to strengthen systems, workforce capacity, and data use to support early childhood development.

The report examines how child development monitoring is integrated into primary health care services across countries in Europe and Central Asia. It reviews existing policies, practices, and tools used to assess developmental progress in early childhood, identifying both strengths and gaps. The publication emphasizes the importance of early detection, timely referral, and continuity of care within routine health services. It provides practical directions to strengthen systems, workforce capacity, and data use to support early childhood development.

The report examines how child development monitoring is integrated into primary health care services across countries in Europe and Central Asia. It reviews existing policies, practices, and tools used to assess developmental progress in early childhood, identifying both strengths and gaps. The publication emphasizes the importance of early detection, timely referral, and continuity of care within routine health services. It provides practical directions to strengthen systems, workforce capacity, and data use to support early childhood development.

This report explores the largely unmeasured consequences of the COVID‑19 pandemic on early childhood development in the WHO European Region. It reviews disruptions to essential services such as health care, early learning, childcare, and family support, as well as increased stressors on caregivers and households. The analysis highlights significant data gaps and missed opportunities to monitor, protect, and prioritize young children’s development during crisis response and recovery. It calls for stronger systems, better data, and child‑centred policies to mitigate long‑term developmental and social impacts.

The ECD Factsheet synthesizes key evidence and supports the importance of early detection. The factsheet presents data and messages in a clear, accessible format, making complex evidence easy to understand. It is designed for quick reference by decision‑makers, practitioners, and partners.

The ECD Factsheet synthesizes key evidence and supports the importance of early detection. The factsheet presents data and messages in a clear, accessible format, making complex evidence easy to understand. It is designed for quick reference by decision‑makers, practitioners, and partners.

A Whole-of-Government 10-year strategy focused on supporting the development, health, and well-being of children from birth to age five and their families. The strategy is built on four main goals: strengthening families and communities, ensuring optimum physical and mental health, promoting positive play-based early learning, and creating an effective early childhood system.