Shallwani, S., & Jindani, F. (June, 2008). Can early child development programmes help overcome social disparities? Paper presented at the Biennial Convention of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Chicago.
Abstract:
Current research in early child development (ECD) indicates that children’s experiences in their earliest years lay the foundation for lifelong development, academic achievement, and social success. Studies suggest children’s developmental health is impacted by the physical, emotional, and social environments in which they are raised in their earliest years (R. H. Bradley et al., 1989). Longitudinal research indicates that early interventions for ECD can have positive lasting effects on all children, but particularly strong impacts on children from disadvantaged circumstances (L. J. Schweinhart et al., 1993).
Some have further argued that ECD programmes can be a key opportunity to equalize social and health disparities resulting from poverty and social exclusion (M. Friendly & D. Lero, 2002). For example, the Inter-American Development Bank claims that early childhood interventions targeted to children from disadvantaged backgrounds “can help break the tragic cycle of poverty” (1999, p.3). In this way, ECD programmes are presented as an effective and unproblematic way to address problems of social disparities.
However, much of the evidence cited to support this conceptualization is based on research conducted with very specific populations in the Minority world, and has been critiqued as neither very strong nor very generalizable (H. Penn, 2004). Moreover, this conceptualization of ECD as the great equalizer focuses attention to the care and education given to the children of low-income parents, and diverts attention away from macro-level neoliberal economic practices which actually cause poverty and social injustice.
In this presentation, we critically review research and theory on the relationship between ECD and social and health disparities. We present evidence both supporting and shedding doubt upon the mainstream conceptualization of ECD as an opportunity to overcome disparities. We draw upon our own practice and research experiences, particularly in Majority world contexts such as Pakistan and Kenya, to qualitatively highlight learnings.
Can early child development programmes help overcome social disparities? (2008)
1. Can early child development
programmes help overcome
social disparities?
Sadaf Shallwani & Farah Jindani
Contact: Sadaf Shallwani, Department of Human
Development and Applied Psychology, Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education / University of Toronto.
http://sadafshallwani.net
2. Can ECD programmes help overcome
social disparities?
Overview
ECD & poverty/disparities discourse
Theory
Research findings
Limitations, issues, implications
Role of ECD in impacting poverty/disparities?
Central argument
ECD alone cannot help overcome social
disparities.
3. ECD & Poverty Discourse
Inter American Development Bank
conference: ‘Breaking the Poverty Cycle:
Investing in Early Childhood’ (1999)
‘Early child development: A powerful
equaliser’ (Irwin, Siddiqi, & Hertzman,
2007)
4. Experiences from the Majority World
ECD in the Majority world
Pakistan
Community-based parent education programme
Kenya
ECD in public school system
8. ECD & Poverty Discourse
Theory:
Contextual factors → early experiences →
ECD → human development outcomes
ECD programmes
9. ECD Programmes:
Research from the Minority World
Preschools
Parenting programmes
Concerns
Sustainability
Generalizability
Impact on poverty?
10. ECD Programmes:
Research from the Majority World
Preschools
Parenting programmes
Concerns
Extreme variation
Limited funding/resources
High poverty
Limited research
Impact on poverty?
11. ECD & Poverty Discourse
Assumptions and implications
Self-determination / choice
Resources
Deficit model
Focus
Micro-level experiences, not social injustices
which actually result in poverty and disparities
Impact
Status quo
12. Impacting Poverty and Disparities
Macro-level factors
Income redistribution policies
Lifespan development: adults
Environment
Opportunities
13. Role of ECD in Responding to Disparities
Value in the here and now
Practical support for mothers, children, families
As part of a larger, integrated approach to
supporting children and families in
disadvantaged circumstances
Quality
Wide-scale investment
Multi-level approach
