Caregivers shape childhood. And childhood shapes everything that follows. The relationships children experience early on influence children’s health, learning and emotional wellbeing, with lasting effects for societies and economies.
Last week in Madrid, leaders from governments, international organisations, academia and civil society gathered at the Global Caregiver Forum to share evidence and experiences on how best to support caregivers and strengthen outcomes for children.
I attended the Forum together with the Serbian delegation, led by the Minister of Family Care and Demography, Jelena Žarić Kovačević. The discussions highlighted a growing global consensus on the importance of parenting and caregiving support, alongside the need to adapt evidence to national contexts and everyday realities.
Caregivers and child development
Caregivers influence every aspect of a child’s early development. When children grow up in safe, stable and nurturing relationships, they are more likely to feel emotionally secure, learn well and stay healthy over time. These early experiences also shape how children do in school and, later on, how they participate in society and in the workforce.
The evidence shared in Madrid reaffirmed that caregiving skills can be strengthened when parents and caregivers have access to timely guidance, practical support and services. When this support is available, children are more likely to thrive.
At the same time, many families are under real pressure. Daily stress, financial insecurity, social isolation or difficulty accessing services can make caregiving harder, even for parents and caregivers who are deeply committed. That is why support needs to be practical, easy to access and grounded in families’ everyday lives.
What the evidence tells us
The Global Caregiver Forum reinforced what many parents, professionals and policymakers already know from experience: when caregivers are supported, children do better. Well-designed parenting and caregiving programmes help children learn and develop, support caregivers’ mental wellbeing, and reduce violence in families and communities.
Parenting support is also a sound public investment. Evidence presented at the Forum shows returns of up to 13 dollars for every dollar invested, reflecting long-term benefits for individuals, communities and public systems. With 1.3 billion children expected to be born globally in the next decade, scaling effective support for caregivers is increasingly recognised as a strategic priority.
Evidence alone, however, does not lead to change. It needs to be reflected in policy decisions and sustained public investment.
Reaching families through everyday services
Families rely on health services, early education, social protection and community-based support as their children grow. These systems provide important opportunities to reach caregivers early and consistently.
While all caregivers can benefit from guidance, some families need extra support when life becomes more challenging. Clear and connected services make it easier for families to access support, without barriers or judgement.
Strengthening these connections does not require creating new structures. It means building on existing services and ensuring they work well together for children and families.
From global dialogue to national context
The Forum also provided space for countries to share national perspectives and priorities. In this context, it was encouraging to hear Minister Jelena Žarić Kovačević speak about Serbia’s commitment to public financing for parenting and family support, as well as her openness to advancing a ban on corporal punishment as part of a broader preventive and child-centred approach.
Public financing plays a key role in ensuring that parenting support is available consistently across regions and over time. Legal and policy frameworks that promote positive parenting and non-violent discipline contribute to clearer social norms and stronger prevention efforts.
These discussions highlighted the importance of aligning international evidence with national policy processes, budgets and service delivery, so that families experience support in their everyday lives.
Moving from discussion to impact
Short-term initiatives can demonstrate what is possible, but lasting impact depends on sustained public investment, continuity and coordination across systems.
Investing in caregivers contributes to better child development outcomes, reduces the need for more costly interventions later on, and strengthens social cohesion. Countries that prioritise support in the early years consistently see benefits that extend well beyond childhood.
Taken together, the discussions in Madrid point to a clear direction.
If we want every child in Serbia to grow up safe, loved and nurtured, and to become an adult who contributes to society, support for caregivers must be:
- accessible to all families
- stronger for those who need it most
- embedded in everyday services that are interconnected.
- and financed sustainably over time through public funding
Caregiving shapes childhoods. Childhoods shape societies.
And the choices we make today will shape Serbia’s future.
