Mass media play a significant role in most people’s lives, affecting family routines, social interactions, cultural norms, and leisure activities – all of which impact upon contemporary childhood. Television is particularly significant in early childhood; it is the child’s first and most enduring contact with the mass media and an integral part of the overall...

As a child and family health professional, opportunities may arise in your daily interaction with families to encourage and support the promotion of early literacy. This article will provide an update on current early literacy knowledge and address the challenges professionals encounter when introducing literacy programs in culturally diverse communities. In recent years, the promotion...

Caring for young children, and getting the caring right, is becoming recognised as one of the most significant challenges facing parents, communities and societies. Young children who develop secure attachments through positive caregiving are more likely to experience lower levels of stress and other associated benefits. In turn, they are more able to contribute positively...

Children are particularly vulnerable developmentally in the earliest years of their life. For children living in poverty, the probability of being exposed to developmental risk factors is considerably higher. This Policy Brief examines the impact of poverty on early childhood development. It highlights both the risk and the protective factors for children living in poverty...

Many mothers do not continue to provide breast milk for their babies when they return to work as this does not occur to them as a viable option. However, by expressing and storing milk at work, continuing to provide breast milk for their infants is a very viable option for mothers returning to work.