Importance of early years care emphasized

The National Health Commission has recently issued two guidelines aimed at bolstering early childhood development services and enhancing infant nutrition and feeding practices, as part of a broader initiative to cultivate a birth-friendly society.

One guideline said that the first three years of life are critical for a child's overall development as the brain, nervous system and motor skills undergo rapid growth and are highly adaptable to external influences during the period.

"It is important to provide services to promote early childhood development and guide caregivers to establish scientifically sound parenting behaviors … so as to lay a solid foundation for their children's lifelong development," the commission said.

The guideline emphasized the significance of responsive caregiving and early learning opportunities, requesting rural clinics, community healthcare centers and county-level maternal and child care institutions to deliver guidance for caregivers to engage in companionship, emotional communication and interactions with children.

"Caregivers should observe the eye contact, expressions, movements, sounds, gestures and verbal cues of infants and actively respond to them so as to help stimulate the formation of neural connections in their brains and help them understand the world around them," it said.

The provision of early learning opportunities involves engaging in parent-child games, reading and other forms of communication so as to foster children's capabilities in interpersonal communication, emotional expression and empathy.

In the meantime, the guideline stresses creating a nurturing environment for infants, characterized by access to a rich variety of toys, books and plenty of opportunities for them to explore nature and play with peers.

"Interacting with peers can help infants and young children learn how to communicate, cooperate and resolve conflicts with others. Various sounds, smells, textures and visual stimuli in nature can aid in the development of sensory perception, enhancing children's awareness and understanding of the external environment," it said.

The guideline highlights that children aged 2 and under should not be exposed to any form of digital screens, including televisions, computers, smartphones, tablets and game consoles, and these devices should not be used as "playmates" for children.

It warns that exposure to digital screens risks impeding communication, hindering brain development and increasing the risk of myopia.

Official data shows that the rate of shortsightedness among primary school pupils is 35.6 percent, and the rate rises to over 71 percent among junior high school students and 80.5 percent among those attending senior high school.

The guideline also calls for heightened attention paid to mothers — often the primary caregiver in the family.

"Postpartum depression is one of the major issues affecting maternal mental health," it said. "Early detection and targeted intervention for caregivers, especially mothers are deemed critical."

The guideline also provides assessment templates for child care professionals to survey families with infants and young children so that they can generate targeted advice and help correct inappropriate rearing behaviors.

"Grassroots healthcare institutions are also required to organize events to further spread scientific knowledge and skills for child rearing," it said.

The second guideline focuses on food choices for children under the age of 3, aiming to enhance their nutrition, reduce rates of anemia and growth retardation and lower the prevalence of those overweight or obese.

Official data shows that the rate of anemia among children aged 5 and under was 4.2 percent in 2021, and the rate of stunted growth among the age group was 1.1 percent. Meanwhile, more than 3.6 percent of children aged 6 and under are obese and the rate reaches nearly 8 percent among teenagers aged 6 to 17.

The document advocates for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the gradual introduction of complementary foods.

For toddlers aged 2 to 3, the guideline emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and the cultivation of healthy eating behaviors such as choosing fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients, reducing salt and sugar intake, and avoiding watching TV, computers, phones and other electronic devices during meals.

Each meal should be limited to within 30 minutes, it said.

Community and rural healthcare institutions are tasked with conducting regular nutrition and feeding assessments for infants and young children, and offering tailored counseling and guidance.

"If an infant or young child is found to experience nutritional disorder, they should be promptly referred to a maternal and child health institution or other specialized medical facilities for further treatment," it said.