Early childhood development

Bucharest, 20 September 2023. The free parenting app Bebbo, developed by UNICEF, is already providing constant support for thousands of Romanian parents and caregivers of children from birth to six years old. Bebbo is used daily to access reliable and verified advice on nutrition, health and education of children or to monitor their growth to…

Play is how young children learn and make sense of the world around them. While they are having fun, they are working on critical parts of their development like building motor, cognitive, social and emotional skills. But the power of play extends beyond early learning: it also plays a key role in building your child’s mental health – and yours…, Play helps to strengthen the bond between you and your child, Sharing in joyful moments of fun and learning helps bring children and their caregivers closer together. As your little one's first playmate, you have the ability to provide opportunities for learning and connection right at home. When you play together, you get to see the world from your child’s perspective. By providing your child with love,…, Play helps reduce stress levels, Playing games, dancing and singing are great ways to relieve stress for both your child and you. When you’re enjoying fun moments and laughing together, your body releases endorphins that promote a feeling of well-being. Even short periods of play together can serve as a powerful reminder for adults of their ability to support their child, and…, Play helps children process difficult emotions, When children are dealing with complex emotional issues, it often shows up in their play. Giving children space to play allows them to work through feelings such as pain, fear or loss while being able to still act like a child. Play gives them a way to express things they are struggling with that they don’t yet have the words to fully explain. By…, Play helps to build confidence, Solving problems and coming up with creative solutions during a game or while working on a puzzle give children a sense of accomplishment and competence. When you take time to play with your child, your little one is learning that they are valued and fun to be around. It is important that you give your full attention during playtime and invest in…

GENEVA, 1 June 2023 – Affordable childcare and quality preschool are the top priorities among parents in 13 countries in Europe and Central Asia, according to survey findings published today by UNICEF ahead of Parenting Month, celebrated annually in June. The survey asked parents to identify which types of government, business and community-led…

Play is something that every child, everywhere in the world can do. It stimulates curiosity, sparks creativity, and inspires a lifelong love of learning. Through playing, children pick up all kinds of skills to thrive today – and lay the foundations for a happier and healthier future.   With UNICEF support, 140 Romanian and Ukrainian teachers…

Playing and learning are essential for every child’s development – starting from the moment they are born. The first years of life shape a child’s development in every aspect – physical, linguistic, social, and emotional. These years build the foundation for their future life.     Together with partners, UNICEF created 28 Play, Learning and…, Where you can find the Play, Learning and Parenting Hubs , The Play Learning and Parenting Hubs are located in Bucharest, Sighetu Marmației, Sibiu, Isaccea, Târgu Mureș, Sighișoara, Brașov, Iași, Mediaș, Constanța, Galați, and Cluj-Napoca. As of April 2023, more than 650 young children from Romania and Ukraine have been registered to these hubs, having access to the educational services provided there. …, Discover the Primo Hubs, Mother and son at Play Learning and Parenting Hub Baby at Primo Hub Bucharest Baby and mother Primo Hub Primo Hub The PrimoHUB is a Play, Learning and Parenting Center, aimed at stimulating the development of children from birth to 6 years old by increasing the access to education of children from vulnerable communities, developing the parental…, A happy child, a happy parent!, Alina, mother of two children “ I've seen some changes regarding my son's behavior. He used to spend time only with us, at home, being a little spoiled. But since he started going to the center, he learned how to follow the rules, and he became more responsible.   Lucian is in a mixed group, where he also interacts with Ukrainian children. I think…

BUCHAREST, 20 March 2023. Vulnerable Romanian and Ukrainian children living in Bucharest are benefiting, together with their families, from a new Play, Learning and Parenting PrimoHUB. Through this hub, UNICEF will support early education services to vulnerable children, in partnership with Bucharest’s Mayoralty, through the General Directorate of…

BUCHAREST, 23 March 2023. The Romanian Senate and UNICEF in Romania, together with the Step by Step Centre, launched on Thursday the mobile parenting app Bebbo in Romanian, designed to support parents and other caregivers of children from birth to age 6. Bebbo was developed regionally by UNICEF, with the support from the Austrian Development…

BUCHAREST, December 6, 2022— The Bucharest Mayoralty, through the General Directorate of Social Assistance and the Municipality of Bucharest (DGASMB), the Step by Step Center for Education and Professional Development Association and UNICEF opened a new Play, Learning and Parenting Center in the Capital - PrimoHUB. This is a day center, aimed at…

Opportunities for learning are around every corner – even in your own home. Playing together is a great way to discover new things and build key skills. Our friends at the LEGO Foundation launched PLAYLIST – a collection of fun learning activities for families – and we're delighted to share a few with you. Give them a try with your little one to…, Book roads, Build a road through your house...with books! This fun activity will develop motor, creative and problem-solving skills. You will need: As many books as you can find. A toy car, or maybe a ball. Why not build a car using LEGO bricks? 1. Start putting paperbacks on the floor to build a road through your house. 2. Hardback books are great for things…, The wind, Explore and paint using wind power. This wind power game is a great activity for understanding movement and space through sensory skills. You will need: LEGO bricks, dried leaves, pieces of card and paper, tubes (or straws) of different sizes, paint and stones or other small objects. 1. First, let's think and talk about the wind before using its…, Paper planes, Can you build a plane that flies? Try this fun paper plane game which helps you learn how to solve problems by testing ideas, practice concentrating and get better at handling frustrations. You can make the paper plane game even trickier by adding weights to your plane. You will need: Paper of different sizes, colors and thicknesses, scissors,…

The science is clear: early moments matter and their effects can last a lifetime. In the first 1,000 days of life, your baby’s brain develops faster than at any other time. And it’s the child’s environment and experiences that shape how happy, healthy and smart she will grow up to be. Here’s how you can make every moment count: Arrow Arrow Arrow…

Baby talk may sound silly to you, but not to your child! In the first 1,000 days, your baby’s brain develops at a pace never repeated again. Baby talk helps give your child the best start in life. We sat down with Dr. Marina Kalashnikova, who researches how babies learn language, to find out what baby talk is and why it's the most important…

New parents have thousands of questions about how to give their baby the best start in life. We put some of the most searched for ones to Professor Frank Oberklaid, Director of the Centre for Community Child Health at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne and all-round baby expert.  Loading...