Going global with indicators of child well-being: indicators of South African children's psychosocial development in the early childhood period: phase 3 report

Abstract

The development of standards for psychosocial development in early childhood. (Tender awarded by UNICEF). This study was completed in August 2004. It forms part of a multi-country UNICEF initiative, which aims to make countries accountable for children's early psychosocial development, and improve our ability to monitor children's development and report on children's progress. The research forms a component of UNICEF's Going Global with Indicators of Child Well-Being initiative in which six countries undertook ECD standards development. There are three components to the South African study: 1. A review of recent developments in the Standards approach to assessing child well-being in the age range 0-9 years. 2. A targeted situation analysis of the South African environment to assess government commitment, currently available measures, and work already undertaken in the area of Early Childhood Development. 3. Fieldwork to ascertain understandings of and priorities for children's development and well-being among stakeholders, including programme and service personnel, caregivers, parents and children. Participatory methods were employed in three ethnolinguistic communities in order to determine cultural similarities and differences in standards for child development. A set of standards for psychosocial early childhood development was developed for South Africa. These have been provided to the relevant state departments and to UNICEF HQ.