Since KidSTART’s inception in 2016, the programme has impacted close to 10,000 KidSTART children and their families. By April 2025, KidSTART will be officially scaled up nationwide. KidSTART CEO Mdm Rahayu Buang recently spoke at the Asian Family Conference to share about the evaluation findings of the KidSTART programme, how it validated KidSTART’s efforts, guided our knowledge on the impactful elements of our work, and informed our plans for the nationwide scale up. Read on for an abbreviated version of Mdm Rahayu’s impactful speech! “KidSTART upholds that parents know their children best and aspire for their children. We adopt a strengths-based approach and evidence-based strategies to support parents in developing skills to engage their children positively. We equip parents with practical knowledge and skills in the areas of child developmental milestones, child health, safety and nutrition as well as antenatal and postnatal care and support. And we calibrate the support needed based on the family’s needs. Taking into account the evaluation findings, the KidSTART service model was enhanced in several ways: 1. Expansion of Home Visitation - Results showed that home visits worked, thus home visitation is extended to all children in a KidSTART family who are under 6 years old, maximising the reach and duration of intervention as we aim to reach out to 80% of the eligible birth cohort. We noted that parents enjoyed the social interaction from playgroups, so we created KidSTART events and initiatives for families to have further opportunities for social connectedness and parent-child bonding. 2. Continue to build the capabilities of KidSTART Practitioners - The second enhancement is to ensure that KidSTART Practitioners have the capabilities and support to deliver the programme with fidelity. KidSTART Practitioners receive day-to-day guidance from Lead Practitioners, and support in building professional competency and confidence to deliver the KidSTART Curriculum by Mentors. 3. Stronger Partnerships - KidSTART aims to work symbiotically with community partners, social service agencies that are appointed as KidSTART Agencies, ComLink+ and Family Service Centres to support the national social service ecosystem 4. Increased Emphasis on Antenatal Support - Acknowledging the link between maternal health and child development, KidSTART aims to enroll as many eligible mothers as possible from the pregnancy stage. I truly believe KidSTART is not just a programme. It is our collective effort to build a Singapore society that envisions a good start in life for all children. It will take some years before we can really see the full impact but if we are successful in our partnerships and interventions, we would be creating ripples that positively impact not just the families and children that we serve now, but eventually generations that follow. Our Support Today, Their Better Tomorrow.” Find out more about the KidSTART programme at www.kidstart.sg.
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Ms Puspavalli Namasivayam, alongside Lead Practitioner Ms Sua Swee Lee, recently presented about KidSTART at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) Conference 2024. Attended by an audience of early childhood educators and professionals who work with young children, Ms Puspa gave attendees a deeper understanding of the KidSTART programme and curriculum. Research shows that early experiences in utero and the first 1,000 days of one’s life have implications on child health and development. Negative experiences and stress that a mother is exposed to during her pregnancy can impact the foetus’ growth and its brain development, with consequences over its life course if not addressed. With early intervention from the antenatal stage till the child turns 6, KidSTART aims to mitigate the negative effects of these risk factors and promote positive child health and developmental outcomes. This is why KidSTART believes in a good start as early as possible, especially for children from lower-income families. As KidSTART believes in child-focused but family-centric support, the crux of KidSTART practitioners’ work is to empower families to build strong foundations for their children. The KidSTART Curriculum consists of guiding principles of encouraging parents to make everyday interactions count. KidSTART practitioners employ the acronym START to tell parents that strengthening parent-child relationships and interactions can be as simple as - Sing, Talk, Actively play, Read and Teach. KidSTART also subscribes to the Abecedarian Approach, wherein parents are encouraged to incorporate Enriched Caregiving during their daily caregiving routines. Whilst conducting home visits, KidSTART practitioners will also film parents to highlight and reinforce what was done well and how it contributes to their child’s development. Through the strength-based approach, KidSTART practitioners recognise, affirm and support caregivers in developing the skills to interact and engage their children positively. Ms Puspa closed her presentation with the key learnings from the KidSTART programme thus far. Parents know their children best, and have goals and aspirations for them. And KidSTART recognises that relationships and rapport-building are at the heart of interventions, which is why it is crucial to continue capability-building for the KidSTART practitioners who deliver the programme to the KidSTART families. In addition to supporting our practitioners, it is vital that KidSTART continues to have constant engagement with corporate partners and the local community to strengthen the ecosystem of support. It was a fulfilling and productive session for all involved as Ms Puspa explained and demonstrated why KidSTART believes so fervently in the importance of the early years. It is with our support today that we can help build their better tomorrow. #KidSTARTSG #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #AGoodStart #TheirBetterTomorrow
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🤝Seeking Partners for Collaboration The “Mother’s Rights in the First 1000 Days of the Child’s Life” project, based on the 80/20 principle, focuses 80% on supporting mothers and 20% on the child’s development, as follows: 🗝️Main Objectives: 80% Focus on the Mother: 1. Understanding and Respecting Women in This Special Period: • Create a supportive environment both physically and mentally for mothers, helping them feel safe and confident. • Ensure that women are heard and their personal desires and emotions are respected during pregnancy and childcare. 2. Reducing Pressure on Mothers: • Minimize societal and family pressures on achieving perfection in motherhood. • Encourage mothers to trust themselves and prioritize self-awareness rather than conforming to unrealistic standards. 3. Building Community and Family Support: • Train families and communities to better understand and support mothers during this period. • Provide support services such as psychological counseling and dedicated groups for mothers. 🗝️20% Focus on the Child: 1. Ensuring Comprehensive Child Development: • Provide healthcare services for children, including nutrition, preventing malnutrition, and addressing common health issues. • Ensure children develop both physically and intellectually through early education programs that stimulate cognitive growth. 2. Nutrition and Psychological Development: • Offer nutritional guidance to mothers to ensure their children receive the necessary nutrients during the first years. • Support mental health programs for children, helping develop emotional intelligence and social interaction skills. 👩🍼Activities for Mother and Child: 1. Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Women and Children: • Conduct surveys and interviews to better understand the needs and desires of mothers and children. • Build personalized care programs based on real feedback from mothers and children. 2. Raising Awareness and Providing Support: • Communicate about reducing pressures on mothers through social media campaigns, workshops, and television programs. • Organize community events to highlight the importance of support and sharing within the family. 3. Providing Mental and Physical Health Support for Both Mother and Child: • Offer free psychological counseling services for mothers and organize yoga, meditation, and physical activities for mothers while providing healthcare programs for children. Communication Message: • “Motherhood doesn’t need to be perfect; love yourself first.” • “Listening, sharing, and respecting—this is the best way to accompany mothers.” • “A happy family starts with a mother who is understood, and a child who is well cared for.” Expected Outcomes: • Reducing mental stress and improving the quality of life for mothers. • Ensuring comprehensive development for children, both physically and intellectually. • Changing societal perceptions of women’s roles within the family and community.
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🤝Seeking Partners for Collaboration There are already many programs focused on supporting children, but it’s time to take action to prioritize support for mothers. By empowering mothers during the crucial first 1,000 days, we not only enhance their well-being but also create a stronger foundation for children’s development. Let’s partner to drive meaningful change, starting with the mothers who make everything possible. 👩🍼
🤝Seeking Partners for Collaboration The “Mother’s Rights in the First 1000 Days of the Child’s Life” project, based on the 80/20 principle, focuses 80% on supporting mothers and 20% on the child’s development, as follows: 🗝️Main Objectives: 80% Focus on the Mother: 1. Understanding and Respecting Women in This Special Period: • Create a supportive environment both physically and mentally for mothers, helping them feel safe and confident. • Ensure that women are heard and their personal desires and emotions are respected during pregnancy and childcare. 2. Reducing Pressure on Mothers: • Minimize societal and family pressures on achieving perfection in motherhood. • Encourage mothers to trust themselves and prioritize self-awareness rather than conforming to unrealistic standards. 3. Building Community and Family Support: • Train families and communities to better understand and support mothers during this period. • Provide support services such as psychological counseling and dedicated groups for mothers. 🗝️20% Focus on the Child: 1. Ensuring Comprehensive Child Development: • Provide healthcare services for children, including nutrition, preventing malnutrition, and addressing common health issues. • Ensure children develop both physically and intellectually through early education programs that stimulate cognitive growth. 2. Nutrition and Psychological Development: • Offer nutritional guidance to mothers to ensure their children receive the necessary nutrients during the first years. • Support mental health programs for children, helping develop emotional intelligence and social interaction skills. 👩🍼Activities for Mother and Child: 1. Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Women and Children: • Conduct surveys and interviews to better understand the needs and desires of mothers and children. • Build personalized care programs based on real feedback from mothers and children. 2. Raising Awareness and Providing Support: • Communicate about reducing pressures on mothers through social media campaigns, workshops, and television programs. • Organize community events to highlight the importance of support and sharing within the family. 3. Providing Mental and Physical Health Support for Both Mother and Child: • Offer free psychological counseling services for mothers and organize yoga, meditation, and physical activities for mothers while providing healthcare programs for children. Communication Message: • “Motherhood doesn’t need to be perfect; love yourself first.” • “Listening, sharing, and respecting—this is the best way to accompany mothers.” • “A happy family starts with a mother who is understood, and a child who is well cared for.” Expected Outcomes: • Reducing mental stress and improving the quality of life for mothers. • Ensuring comprehensive development for children, both physically and intellectually. • Changing societal perceptions of women’s roles within the family and community.
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I'm glad there is research going into this. But I have a beef 🍖 I'll preface my beef with that my wife and I are professional parents with our own careers. I fully appreciate the coordination and challenges that go along with caring for kids and working at the same time (especially working from home, particularly when they are sick). I think the use of screens is the easy way out. I have set strong boundaries on my expectations for my children. When they are home and I'm working, there are no screens. They are expected to find and list things they can do in the time I'm not attentive to them: - Playing with toys - Reading - Doing puzzles - Drawing, colouring in - Knitting Nancy - Going outside Screens are a problem now because there are parents who have abdicated responsibility. I'm not here saying the childcare system is set up in a way that serves the public at large. But these are two separate topics. 1) The use of screens and their impact on children 2) A fit-for-purpose childcare system. I believe you need to separate the issues. Just because the childcare system is not fit for purpose doesn't mean you resort to putting your kids in front of screens. Set strong, early boundaries for your children. Show them there are options for entertainment outside of 4 corners of a device. You are a parent. Parent. Then also raise with your local members the fact you don't have any good childcare options.
Follow for daily posts on parenting and work life | By day, building the world's best childcare company 🎤 Keynote speaker | ex-McKinsey, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford DPhil | 👶 3x Mum
This week we went public with a shocking piece of original research. But behind the scenes - We had actually found it hard to figure out how to tell this story at all. Our findings about children and screens were stark -- but we didn't want to be 'judgy' or blame parents. Because parents are not the ones who have caused this problem. Here's what our study of 2000+ UK families had found: - Wraparound childcare isn't good enough - So, many parents are having to work and look after kids at the same time - and give them screens for hours every day in order to cope. Specifically: - 88% of UK parents who theoretically have access to after school care either struggle to afford it, or it's not flexible enough for their needs - More than a third of parents therefore have to have their children at home with them after school while they attempt to work. These parents give their kids an average of 1.5hrs screen time before 6pm (many a lot more) - Children with special educational needs - for whom childcare provision is particularly poor - get more screen time than those without - Nearly half of parents who used screens or devices to distract their kids after school say it makes it harder for kids to sleep at bedtime - Over half say it has also created a vicious cycle with children expecting a certain amount of screentime, leading to battles when parents finish work - A third say it has become harder for their children to be entertained in other ways This matters, because we know that excessive screentime for kids is linked to changes in the brain related to - Processing information - Regulating emotions - Executive functions - Memory - Attention ... all of which impact literacy development and behaviour. And we also know there's a huge epidemic of behavioural challenges in schools right now. But here's the thing: *Parents aren't to blame for this situation* - because you can only work with what you have. And UK parents don't have good options. You simply can’t look after young children and work at the same time! It's impossible. My company Koru Kids is trying as hard as we can to plug the gap. Every weekday we look after over 3000 children. But I'm keenly aware that our service is only available to parents who can afford it. I'd LOVE to provide our service to more people, but current funding structures do not make that possible. So - as we have done many times, today I'm calling for better childcare infrastructure for EVERYONE. What do you think? 🔄 Repost to join the campaign, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this
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🚀 Executive Leadership Coach | Behaviour Risk Expert | 25+ Years NHS Leadership | Sociologist Raising the Consciousness of Organisational Leadership 🌱 Podcaster & Author
Agree it’s an impossible balance. It has to start with the workplace being more flexible to parents who juggle both work and childcare. Rather than parents having to plug gaps with expensive childcare solutions and spending more money they don’t have. The future I want to see is parents having the time and space to be with their children and work hours to wrap around children. Not childcare solutions wrapping around work. That is what will create a healthy and sustainable future for our children and their brain development and companies that embrace this will thrive too. Life moves forwards not backwards. This is the future. Human centred and more importantly children centred. #futureofwork #newleadership #children #patents #OD
Follow for daily posts on parenting and work life | By day, building the world's best childcare company 🎤 Keynote speaker | ex-McKinsey, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford DPhil | 👶 3x Mum
This week we went public with a shocking piece of original research. But behind the scenes - We had actually found it hard to figure out how to tell this story at all. Our findings about children and screens were stark -- but we didn't want to be 'judgy' or blame parents. Because parents are not the ones who have caused this problem. Here's what our study of 2000+ UK families had found: - Wraparound childcare isn't good enough - So, many parents are having to work and look after kids at the same time - and give them screens for hours every day in order to cope. Specifically: - 88% of UK parents who theoretically have access to after school care either struggle to afford it, or it's not flexible enough for their needs - More than a third of parents therefore have to have their children at home with them after school while they attempt to work. These parents give their kids an average of 1.5hrs screen time before 6pm (many a lot more) - Children with special educational needs - for whom childcare provision is particularly poor - get more screen time than those without - Nearly half of parents who used screens or devices to distract their kids after school say it makes it harder for kids to sleep at bedtime - Over half say it has also created a vicious cycle with children expecting a certain amount of screentime, leading to battles when parents finish work - A third say it has become harder for their children to be entertained in other ways This matters, because we know that excessive screentime for kids is linked to changes in the brain related to - Processing information - Regulating emotions - Executive functions - Memory - Attention ... all of which impact literacy development and behaviour. And we also know there's a huge epidemic of behavioural challenges in schools right now. But here's the thing: *Parents aren't to blame for this situation* - because you can only work with what you have. And UK parents don't have good options. You simply can’t look after young children and work at the same time! It's impossible. My company Koru Kids is trying as hard as we can to plug the gap. Every weekday we look after over 3000 children. But I'm keenly aware that our service is only available to parents who can afford it. I'd LOVE to provide our service to more people, but current funding structures do not make that possible. So - as we have done many times, today I'm calling for better childcare infrastructure for EVERYONE. What do you think? 🔄 Repost to join the campaign, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this
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Follow for daily posts on parenting and work life | By day, building the world's best childcare company 🎤 Keynote speaker | ex-McKinsey, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford DPhil | 👶 3x Mum
This week we went public with a shocking piece of original research. But behind the scenes - We had actually found it hard to figure out how to tell this story at all. Our findings about children and screens were stark -- but we didn't want to be 'judgy' or blame parents. Because parents are not the ones who have caused this problem. Here's what our study of 2000+ UK families had found: - Wraparound childcare isn't good enough - So, many parents are having to work and look after kids at the same time - and give them screens for hours every day in order to cope. Specifically: - 88% of UK parents who theoretically have access to after school care either struggle to afford it, or it's not flexible enough for their needs - More than a third of parents therefore have to have their children at home with them after school while they attempt to work. These parents give their kids an average of 1.5hrs screen time before 6pm (many a lot more) - Children with special educational needs - for whom childcare provision is particularly poor - get more screen time than those without - Nearly half of parents who used screens or devices to distract their kids after school say it makes it harder for kids to sleep at bedtime - Over half say it has also created a vicious cycle with children expecting a certain amount of screentime, leading to battles when parents finish work - A third say it has become harder for their children to be entertained in other ways This matters, because we know that excessive screentime for kids is linked to changes in the brain related to - Processing information - Regulating emotions - Executive functions - Memory - Attention ... all of which impact literacy development and behaviour. And we also know there's a huge epidemic of behavioural challenges in schools right now. But here's the thing: *Parents aren't to blame for this situation* - because you can only work with what you have. And UK parents don't have good options. You simply can’t look after young children and work at the same time! It's impossible. My company Koru Kids is trying as hard as we can to plug the gap. Every weekday we look after over 3000 children. But I'm keenly aware that our service is only available to parents who can afford it. I'd LOVE to provide our service to more people, but current funding structures do not make that possible. So - as we have done many times, today I'm calling for better childcare infrastructure for EVERYONE. What do you think? 🔄 Repost to join the campaign, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this
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Founder @ The Joss District 🌱 Wholistic Family Wellness Center ✨ | Mama Trauma Barbie Pod Host🎙️ #Onward ➡️
Systems work. Nothing is in a silo... the individual parts impact the whole. With 1 in 2 kids in 🇺🇸 with a chronic condition, Houston, we have a problem 👩🚀 Big ones. ☑️ The school day does not match up with the work day. ✅ The workplace does not align with kids having summers off. ☑️ There is not enough affordable childcare. ✅ There is not enough childcare workers because we do not value childcare enough to pay them a livable wage (or teachers btw). ☑️ Many corporations cannot afford to offer employees paid leave and yet we refuse to offer universal paid leave programs in 🇺🇸, making us the only industrialed nation on the planet without it, impacting the health and well-being of children (and mothers) out of the gate. ✅ All of this and yet companies are mandating workers back to the office STAT. ☑️ We allow chemicals in our food, water, air and products that Europe bans and we are ok with poisoning our kids every single day. All of this is contributing to our ridiculous (and preventable) infant and maternal mortality rates among women and babies in AMERICA. Again, some of the WORST rates for an industrialed nation and yet nothing to see here? This rolls right into why our kids in 🇺🇸 are dying from disease and suicide at alarming rates. It's a national emergency. We moved 🏔️🏔️🏔️ for COVID. Now we stand back and watch a whole country ravish our children and we're too distracted to care. And we wonder why screens and electronics have become an issue? Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in 9 - 24 y/o children (CDC) because we will not fix our upstream systems impacting our most crucial asset we have in this country. Our kids. Our future. We can no longer afford to sit back and allow our children to die in the name of greed and politics. ⚠️ Ban chemicals. ⚠️ Paid leave for families. ⚠️ Improve childcare. ⚠️ Restructure the educational system to align with the work week. ⚠️ Corporate stepping up to instill policies and values to uplift the 75% of employees who are caregivers. Until then, parents, we have to individually make decisions each day to protect our children. Follow along in the weeks and months ahead to learn impactful ways to improve what you can at your own house and for your own kiddos. #Onward ➡️➡️➡️
Follow for daily posts on parenting and work life | By day, building the world's best childcare company 🎤 Keynote speaker | ex-McKinsey, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford DPhil | 👶 3x Mum
This week we went public with a shocking piece of original research. But behind the scenes - We had actually found it hard to figure out how to tell this story at all. Our findings about children and screens were stark -- but we didn't want to be 'judgy' or blame parents. Because parents are not the ones who have caused this problem. Here's what our study of 2000+ UK families had found: - Wraparound childcare isn't good enough - So, many parents are having to work and look after kids at the same time - and give them screens for hours every day in order to cope. Specifically: - 88% of UK parents who theoretically have access to after school care either struggle to afford it, or it's not flexible enough for their needs - More than a third of parents therefore have to have their children at home with them after school while they attempt to work. These parents give their kids an average of 1.5hrs screen time before 6pm (many a lot more) - Children with special educational needs - for whom childcare provision is particularly poor - get more screen time than those without - Nearly half of parents who used screens or devices to distract their kids after school say it makes it harder for kids to sleep at bedtime - Over half say it has also created a vicious cycle with children expecting a certain amount of screentime, leading to battles when parents finish work - A third say it has become harder for their children to be entertained in other ways This matters, because we know that excessive screentime for kids is linked to changes in the brain related to - Processing information - Regulating emotions - Executive functions - Memory - Attention ... all of which impact literacy development and behaviour. And we also know there's a huge epidemic of behavioural challenges in schools right now. But here's the thing: *Parents aren't to blame for this situation* - because you can only work with what you have. And UK parents don't have good options. You simply can’t look after young children and work at the same time! It's impossible. My company Koru Kids is trying as hard as we can to plug the gap. Every weekday we look after over 3000 children. But I'm keenly aware that our service is only available to parents who can afford it. I'd LOVE to provide our service to more people, but current funding structures do not make that possible. So - as we have done many times, today I'm calling for better childcare infrastructure for EVERYONE. What do you think? 🔄 Repost to join the campaign, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this
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Parent coach - Teen years | Head of an Alternative School (11-19) | Coach to senior school leaders
You can only work with what you have!!!! This is a really concerning situation and a great piece of research. If you find yourself in it then be kind, you are not to blame. What you can focus on is how to manage the effects of screen time outside of your working hours. If you want some more help with that then join me for 15 minutes on managing screen time. 💪 https://lnkd.in/eeAeaCTj
Follow for daily posts on parenting and work life | By day, building the world's best childcare company 🎤 Keynote speaker | ex-McKinsey, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford DPhil | 👶 3x Mum
This week we went public with a shocking piece of original research. But behind the scenes - We had actually found it hard to figure out how to tell this story at all. Our findings about children and screens were stark -- but we didn't want to be 'judgy' or blame parents. Because parents are not the ones who have caused this problem. Here's what our study of 2000+ UK families had found: - Wraparound childcare isn't good enough - So, many parents are having to work and look after kids at the same time - and give them screens for hours every day in order to cope. Specifically: - 88% of UK parents who theoretically have access to after school care either struggle to afford it, or it's not flexible enough for their needs - More than a third of parents therefore have to have their children at home with them after school while they attempt to work. These parents give their kids an average of 1.5hrs screen time before 6pm (many a lot more) - Children with special educational needs - for whom childcare provision is particularly poor - get more screen time than those without - Nearly half of parents who used screens or devices to distract their kids after school say it makes it harder for kids to sleep at bedtime - Over half say it has also created a vicious cycle with children expecting a certain amount of screentime, leading to battles when parents finish work - A third say it has become harder for their children to be entertained in other ways This matters, because we know that excessive screentime for kids is linked to changes in the brain related to - Processing information - Regulating emotions - Executive functions - Memory - Attention ... all of which impact literacy development and behaviour. And we also know there's a huge epidemic of behavioural challenges in schools right now. But here's the thing: *Parents aren't to blame for this situation* - because you can only work with what you have. And UK parents don't have good options. You simply can’t look after young children and work at the same time! It's impossible. My company Koru Kids is trying as hard as we can to plug the gap. Every weekday we look after over 3000 children. But I'm keenly aware that our service is only available to parents who can afford it. I'd LOVE to provide our service to more people, but current funding structures do not make that possible. So - as we have done many times, today I'm calling for better childcare infrastructure for EVERYONE. What do you think? 🔄 Repost to join the campaign, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this
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BBC, ITV & Disney Parenting Expert | Broadcaster | Award-Winning Author | Speaker | Consultant | Coach | Host of the Navigating the Digital Jungle Podcast | Empowering Parents to Thrive in the Digital Age 🎧🧭📱
I’m always pondering what other countries do to support #parents & #families & #children The issue of after-school care, particularly between 3 PM and 6 PM, is indeed a significant challenge for many parents. Here are some options that various countries implement to address this problem: 1. Expanded After-School Programmes: Many countries, including the U.S. and Canada, offer structured after-school programmes that provide supervised activities, tutoring, and enrichment classes. 2. Subsidised Childcare: In some European countries, like Sweden and Denmark, the government provides subsidies for after-school care, making it more affordable for families. 3. Flexible Work Policies: Countries like Germany and the Netherlands promote flexible working hours or remote work options, allowing parents to adjust their schedules for school pick-ups. 4. Community-Based Solutions: In places like New Zealand, community organisations often provide informal after-school care, leveraging local volunteers and resources. 5. Integrated School Services: Some countries integrate after-school services within the school system, offering activities directly on school grounds, which can reduce logistical challenges. 6. Public Awareness Campaigns: Countries like Australia have initiated campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of after-school care and encourage community involvement. By implementing these strategies, countries aim to alleviate the burden on parents, especially mothers, and create a more supportive environment for working families so it’s a long overdue investment & needs really addressing in the UK … not easy but important How do you juggle 🤹 screens & your children after school?
Follow for daily posts on parenting and work life | By day, building the world's best childcare company 🎤 Keynote speaker | ex-McKinsey, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford DPhil | 👶 3x Mum
This week we went public with a shocking piece of original research. But behind the scenes - We had actually found it hard to figure out how to tell this story at all. Our findings about children and screens were stark -- but we didn't want to be 'judgy' or blame parents. Because parents are not the ones who have caused this problem. Here's what our study of 2000+ UK families had found: - Wraparound childcare isn't good enough - So, many parents are having to work and look after kids at the same time - and give them screens for hours every day in order to cope. Specifically: - 88% of UK parents who theoretically have access to after school care either struggle to afford it, or it's not flexible enough for their needs - More than a third of parents therefore have to have their children at home with them after school while they attempt to work. These parents give their kids an average of 1.5hrs screen time before 6pm (many a lot more) - Children with special educational needs - for whom childcare provision is particularly poor - get more screen time than those without - Nearly half of parents who used screens or devices to distract their kids after school say it makes it harder for kids to sleep at bedtime - Over half say it has also created a vicious cycle with children expecting a certain amount of screentime, leading to battles when parents finish work - A third say it has become harder for their children to be entertained in other ways This matters, because we know that excessive screentime for kids is linked to changes in the brain related to - Processing information - Regulating emotions - Executive functions - Memory - Attention ... all of which impact literacy development and behaviour. And we also know there's a huge epidemic of behavioural challenges in schools right now. But here's the thing: *Parents aren't to blame for this situation* - because you can only work with what you have. And UK parents don't have good options. You simply can’t look after young children and work at the same time! It's impossible. My company Koru Kids is trying as hard as we can to plug the gap. Every weekday we look after over 3000 children. But I'm keenly aware that our service is only available to parents who can afford it. I'd LOVE to provide our service to more people, but current funding structures do not make that possible. So - as we have done many times, today I'm calling for better childcare infrastructure for EVERYONE. What do you think? 🔄 Repost to join the campaign, and follow Rachel Carrell for more like this
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Founder @ The Village | I help parents and expecting mothers find the right care
💗 Does anyone remember Sure Start? 💗 Last night, I had the privilege of attending a thought-provoking event run by Nesta on what we can learn from Sure Start. What is Sure Start?: The Sure Start initiative strived to enhance the quality and availability of childcare, maternal healthcare and parental education across the UK. By 2010, it had 3,500 centers, offering essential services to countless families. Sure Start was a stepping stone to rebuilding the Village parents need to raise their children. Funding cuts starting in 2010 led to significant changes, including the closure of over 1,000 centers. Despite these setbacks, the initiative had a profound impact on children's lives. Remarkable Outcomes: 🏫 Education: Access to Sure Start improved GCSE grades by an average of one grade. For children eligible for free school meals, the impact was even more significant, with grades increasing by three. 👨⚕️ Health: Sure Start significantly reduced children's chances of hospitalisation with education making homes safer and more nurturing, especially in deprived areas. 💕 Special Educational Needs (SEN): There was a noticeable increase in support for children with SEN. 💰 Economic Benefits: The program not only benefited children but also society by increasing tax income through better education outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Challenges & Learnings: 🗂 Divergence in Local Implementation: The shift to local authority control led to varied implementations, reflecting different policy and funding priorities. 💡 Innovation and Flexibility: Successful outcomes were often tied to local boards that included parents (user feedback is important - who would have guessed! 😅) and had the freedom to innovate. However, early challenges included a lack of coordination between departments! (Who is surprised?) 🔢 Data Integration: A significant gap remains in integrating health and early years data, which is crucial for comprehensive care. The Role of Technology: Naomi Eisenstadt emphasised the transformative potential of technology in fostering community connections. With the rise of smartphones and platforms like WhatsApp, parents can now support each other more effectively, creating modern-day 'villages' that nurture child development. Future Directions: Carey Oppenheim highlighted the need for integrated provisions from pregnancy to age five, merging early years and childcare discussions. This holistic approach is vital for addressing the complex needs of families. Final Thoughts: Families often need just "a little bit of help at the right time." As we continue to grow The Village, I can't wait to use these insights to continue developing solutions that provide timely, tailored support to parents and caregivers so that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and nurturing environment. 💗 Thanks for Eva Pascoe for the recommendation! Keir Starmer - bring back Sure Start? 💛
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