Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2025
11:29
Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
9.3K
Perspective: Growth Monitoring and Promotion as an Opportunity to Improve Early Childhood Development
Leila M Larson1, Edward A Frongillo1, Fahmida Akter1
1Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, SC, United States.
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
|June 27, 2025
Summary
Growth monitoring visits can help promote early child development (ECD). While growth metrics aren't reliable predictors, validated tools can screen children, and the platform can deliver parenting education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) visits are frequent touchpoints with caregivers.
- These visits present an opportunity to promote early child development (ECD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the GMP platform can enhance ECD.
- To determine if GMP can identify children at risk of poor development.
- To assess the feasibility of delivering responsive parenting education via GMP.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of longitudinal and cross-sectional data.
- Review of published literature on ECD interventions.
- Cross-sectional and lagged regression analyses.
- Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves analysis.
Main Results:
- Growth indices were inaccurate predictors of concurrent and later child development.
- Validated tools (e.g., Ages and Stages Questionnaire) are suitable for screening during GMP visits.
- 10 light-touch ECD interventions were identified for GMP feasibility, but only half were evaluated for effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- GMP visits cannot reliably identify children at risk of suboptimal development using growth indices alone.
- The GMP platform is a viable opportunity for screening children and delivering ECD interventions.
- Further research is needed on the implementation and effectiveness of light-touch parenting programs within GMP settings.
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