Early Childhood Matters

View our Early Childhood Matters publications from 2009–2019 on our Early Childhood Matters microsite.

Early Childhood Matters 2021

Climate change is especially dangerous for young children. Yet discussions about climate seldom refer to the fate of young children. They should. This edition of Early Childhood Matters is dedicated… Read more

Early Childhood Matters 2020

Front and centre of this year’s Early Childhood Matters are resounding calls to action from global leaders and experts to ensure that young children, families, frontline workers and cities continue… Read more

Young Children and Families in Crisis and Displacement: Selected Articles from our Early Childhood Matters publication

View our Early Childhood Matters publications from 2009–2019 on our Early Childhood Matters microsite. This is a collection of articles specifically dedicated to young children and families affected by crisis… Read more

Early Childhood Matters 2019

Early Childhood Matters 2019

Anyone working to make life better for babies, toddlers and their caregivers will find knowledge and inspiration in this 2019 edition of Early Childhood Matters. Authors of the 32 articles… Read more

Early Childhood Matters 2018

The 2018 edition of Early Childhood Matters features keynote contributions from the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, on the ‘De Cero a Siempre’ policy; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General… Read more

Early Childhood Matters 2017

Early Childhood Matters 2017

This latest edition of the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s journal showcases advances in early childhood development, bringing new ideas from around the world and exploring the challenges of scaling up. Read more

Early Childhood Matters 2016

The 2016 edition of Early Childhood Matters features contributions from UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake; WHO Assistant Director General Flavia Bustreo; Alice Albright and colleagues at the Global Partnership for… Read more

A good start: advances in early childhood development

Publication ECM124 A Good Start: advances in early childhood development

A special issue to mark the 50th anniversary of the Bernard van Leer Foundation's first grant in early childhood, this edition of ECM surveys the state of the early childhood… Read more

Small children, big cities

Publication ECM123 Small Children, Big Cities

With the world rapidly urbanising, more and more childhoods are being lived in big cities. This ECM explores issues ranging from playground design, "public parenting", and children's voices in urban… Read more

Responsive parenting: a strategy to prevent violence

Publication ECM122 Responsive Parenting: a strategy to prevent violence

This edition of Early Childhood Matters addresses responsive parenting and its potential to reduce the incidence of violence against young children. Read more