CDRF Holds Closed-Door Seminar on Early Childhood Development

Fang Jin, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CDRF, gave an opening speech, pointing out that Professor James Heckman’s long history of collaboration with CDRF, and he’s maintained contact with international institutions engaged in similar research and projects. The exchange was a rigorous, scientific and academic discussion aimed at providing a better scientific basis for future projects.

James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Professor at the University of Chicago, and Zhou Jin, Associate Professor at the City University of Hong Kong, gave keynote speeches. Focusing on the effects of typical home visiting programs on children's skills, Professor Heckman analyzed the intervention using a two-year controlled study in Huachi County, and introduced the data algorithm to illustrate how the home visiting program stimulated the development of children's cognitive, linguistic, motor and socio-emotional skills. He pointed out that the overall research objectives of the China REACH project include comparing different programs, understanding how programs can be integrated and improved, and providing better opportunities for early childhood programs in China to promote intergenerational mobility and alleviate poverty. The highlight of the China REACH program is the standardization so that it can be replicated and scaled up. Based on evidence-based research and data analysis, Professor Heckman emphasized the importance of interaction between home visitors and caregivers for child development, and pointed out the strengths of the China REACH project in terms of costs and benefits. Zhou Jin said that it is important to continue to follow up on the project and make the long-term development of children's skills a goal for the future.

Wang Weidong, Deputy Director of the National Survey Research Center at Renmin University of China, pointed out that integrated nutritional and psychosocial stimulation can improve a child's home environment and reduce the risk of developmental delays, especially for children whose primary caregivers have low levels of education. This infers the relationship between parental care and child development. In addition, education and income play different roles in parenting and child development, as education can increase parental awareness and motivation for children's learning and provide strategies for creating opportunities for children to learn.

Zhang Ting, researcher at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Wang Li, associate researcher at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Zhang Xingli, associate researcher at the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xu Hui, associate professor at the School of Economics and Business Administration of Beijing Normal University, Wang Jian, director of the Institute of Exercise Science and Health Engineering at Zhejiang University, and staff of CDRF engaged in discussions.

Liu Bei, Senior Program Manager of the CDRF’s Child Development Research Institute, spoke on China REACH program and CDRF practice in child development. In 2015, CDRF launched the China REACH which provides interventions through home visits as well as childcare centers. Participants discussed how China REACH and home visits are coordinated and implemented across China, including the effectiveness and feasibility of the different models and how comparative studies can be conducted to obtain more evidence. The REACH Up Team then shared that they have expanded the program model to include parent-child interactive games and parent participation. During lockdowns, the program used remote interventions, including parent handbooks and kits, as well as video interactions. Findings suggest the program achieved positive results in terms of child development and family stimulation.

Cai Jianhua, Senior Advisor of CDRF’s Child Development Research Institute, highlighted China's population issues and the importance of the Chinese government's support for high-quality development of the population in order to advance Chinese modernization. CDRF’s program in Hangzhou focused on children aged 0-4, taking into account of urbanization and rural education levels, with a particular focus on the needs of urban children under 3 and childcare centers. More innovative formats were developed, including one-to-one interventions, group activities, toys and service vouchers, and the importance of information management systems and caregiver literacy was emphasized. It is also important to focus on special groups and migrant children.

Lu Mai, former Vice Chairman of CDRF, summarized the CDRF’s work in the area of early childhood development and the Huachi pilot project, and said that the foundation is committed to improving children's early development, quality of life and opportunities through home visiting programs, while also focusing on demographic and sustainable development issues.

At the end of the meeting, Fang Jin, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CDRF, made concluding remarks, and Professor James Heckman expressed his expectation for future in-depth cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Du Zhixin, Deputy Director of CDRF’s Child Development Research Institute.