Free Guide Offers Insights on Child Development and Care for Families

## Free Guide Aims to Support Families and Caregivers A new free guide has been launched to provide families and caregivers with information on child development and care for children up to six years old. The "Guide to Early Childhood" brings together information based on scientific evidence on child development and suggests ways in which everyday activities, such as play and conversation, can contribute to a child's physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. The guide is an initiative of the Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal, with support from Globo and Criança Esperança, and cooperation from the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The guide can be accessed for free online and is part of the Agosto Verde, Mês da Primeira Infância (Green August, Month of Early Childhood) initiative. ## Understanding Child Development According to the Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal, the guide aims to present scientific knowledge on early childhood in an accessible way, without the intention of turning families and caregivers into experts. "The idea is not to transform anyone into an expert, but to walk alongside and explain clearly what happens in the first years of life, with information that will support families and caregivers in caring for a baby or child," says Paula Perim, director of social sensitization at the Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal. The guide features a character called Nelson, the Nenê, who presents information on the first six years of life in a light-hearted way. The guide covers topics such as the importance of interactions between adults and children, and highlights the significance of early childhood in shaping a child's future. According to the Unesco, 90% of brain connections are formed in early childhood, and this period is crucial for building the foundations of physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. ## Raising Awareness about Early Childhood The launch of the guide is part of the "Cuidar da primeira infância é cuidar do mundo" (Caring for Early Childhood is Caring for the World) campaign, which will be promoted throughout August. The Month of Early Childhood was established by Law 14.617/2023 and aims to raise awareness about the importance of attention to pregnant women, babies, young children, and their families. According to the organizations behind the initiative, experiences in early childhood can have lasting effects on a child's health, formation of emotional bonds, and educational trajectory throughout their life.