Safe, Supportive Homes and Good Diet Support Cognitive Development in Young Children

A new study, “Early Life Experiences and Trajectories of Cognitive Development,” in the September 2020 Pediatrics (available online Aug. 17), found that supportive, safe and nurturing homes were associated with trajectories of positive cognitive development in young children and toddlers, along with a higher quality diet and moms with higher cognitive functioning, while more days with illness was indicative of less favorable patterns of development. Researchers examined the cognitive development of 835 children at 6, 15, 24 and 60 months from 5 sites (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Brazil, and South Africa) from the MAL-ED multisite observational cohort study. They found stimulating environments and learning resources in the home and caregivers who were emotionally involved and responsive had a positive impact, along with higher quality diets, while illnesses such as diarrhea, acute lower respiratory infection and vomiting were associated with more concerning developmental patterns. Interestingly, the research showed that factors such as child sex, weight-for-age at enrollment, and household assets and income were found to have little impact. Researchers concluded that positive impacts can be made for young children by teaching positive caregiver behaviors, such as reading with a child and providing learning opportunities, even in impoverished areas, while problems like chronic illness can be used to identify children who may benefit the most from these interventions.

Editor’s note: A solicited commentary, “Let Us Be Vigilant: COVID-19 Is Poised to Obliterate Gains in Healthy Child Development Globally,” is also published in this issue.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.