New Global Research Series Highlights the “Next 1,000 Days,” After a Child’s First 1,000 Days, as Critically Important for Health, Development

New Global Research Series Highlights the “Next 1,000 Days,” After a Child’s First 1,000 Days, as Critically Important for Health, Development

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.—A robust and growing body of international research shows that too many children across the globe are not receiving nurturing care in their second 1,000 days of life.  

A new two-part international Lancet research series discusses the importance of investing in “the next 1,000 days,” from ages two to five. The research summarizes the positive short- and long-term child outcomes of high-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs. The series also examines parent education programs, which have been shown to yield sizeable improvements in children’s developmental outcomes.

The first report in the series, The next 1,000 days: Building on early investments for the health and development of young children, finds that, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 181.9 million children ages 3 and 4 are not receiving nurturing care, thus jeopardizing their development. 

The second report in the series, The cost of not investing in the next 1000 days: implications for policy and practice, finds that failing to provide ECCE globally results in significant societal losses—potentially 8 to 19 times greater than the investment required for ECCE.

Authors shared details about the new report series yesterday, November 19, on a webinar hosted by the international Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), a global network of 350 partners and 30,000 individuals established by the World Bank and UNICEF in 2016 to exchange knowledge and catalyze collective action for greater impact.

“While much attention has been focused on the critical importance of a child’s first 1,000 days, our new research focuses on the next 1,000 days and how children across the globe are faring,” said Milagros Nores, Ph.D., a co-author of the new reports and co-director for research & associate research professor at the National Institute for Early Education Research.  “Our new series demonstrates the need to help families across the globe provide adequate nurturing care to young children, including equitable access to high-quality early care and education, safe and supportive environments with adequate stimulation, protection from physical punishment, adequate nutrition, universal developmental screening, and financial support for vulnerable populations.” 

The Lancet is a highly respected international scientific journal that addresses urgent topics in society, initiates debate, puts science into context, and influences decision-makers around the world. It began as an independent, international weekly general medical journal founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley.

Additional researchers contributing to the new Lancet series include Raquel Bernal, Professor of Economics and Rector at Universidad de los Andes; Catherine Draper, Associate Professor in the SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa; Günther Fink, Eckenstein-Geigy Professor of Epidemiology and Household Economics at the University of Basel in Switzerland; Emily Gustafsson-Wright, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution; and Aisha Khizar Yousafzai, Professor of Child Development and Health at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The National Institute for Early Education Research at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, New Brunswick, NJ, supports early childhood education policy and practice through independent, objective research and the translation of research to policy and practice. 

Ashley Davison, NIEER, adaviosn@nieer.org, (848) 932-3142 (o), (609) 969-1587 (m)
Allison Muhlendorf, Longleaf Strategies, allison@longleafstrategies.com, (334) 450-1027 (m)