Child care and parenting

Supporting fathers, mothers and caregivers in the task of caring and nurturing

Ocu, Panama, June 2021. A father receives counseling during a routine check-up with the pediatrician. Doctor Cornelia Thomas counsels the famliy on Care for child Development (CCD), a program implemented by UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UNICEF/UN0477809/Eduard Serra

What do we mean by parenting?

Nurturing, that close and loving relationship, provides the necessary care throughout the stages of life so that every person can develop physically and emotionally healthy, strong and happy; can explore, play and learn to learn; and has the skills to establish meaningful relationships, work and thrive.

In early childhood, parenting provides the opportunity to lay the foundation for growth and development for the rest of life.

What do we do?

We focus our work so that:

  • Fathers, mothers and other caregivers have access to information, tools and the services needed to accompany their children in their development.
  • Governments and authorities strengthen policies and programs related to early childhood development and family support.
  • Professionals and front-line staff strengthen their knowledge and skills and provide quality and inclusive early childhood development and family support services.
UNICEF/UN0590867/Patricia Willocq

Explore our resources and materials according to your area of interest

Blanca Nohemí López and Orlando Cristóbal Gómez are playing with their son Pablo Sebastián Gómez López (one year old) on October 24h, 2019 in the community of San Juancito, Monjas, Jalapa in Guatemala.
UNICEF/UNI235465/Patricia Willocq

Fathers, Mothers and Other Caregivers


We regularly publish information of interest to all of Latin America and the Caribbean and we have made it our goal that families consider UNICEF as a trusted ally that supports them in the most important task: parenting.

Check out our regional Parenting site with all the information about:

Ucayali, Perú, June 2021. A family visits the pediatrician for a routine check-up. Doctor Berita Sifuentes Rengifo counsels the family on Care for Child Development (CCD), a programme implemented by UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UNICEF/UN0503044/Santiago Rey de Castro

Early childhood development professionals and frontline workers


We support evidence-based knowledge management on cross-sectoral and targeted solutions for the most vulnerable and excluded populations.

Explore our solutions in: