Early childhood development includes all aspects of a child’s early learning and brain development from birth to age 8.
Critical support, such as health care and good nutrition for children and their caregivers, can protect little ones during their most vulnerable early days and years.
Through Compassion Survival, our church partners support children and their caregivers, often starting before birth.
God created every child with dignity, purpose and great potential. Early childhood development lays the foundation for that potential to flourish. From the womb through the first years of school, children’s brains and bodies grow faster than at any other time.
When little ones receive loving care — nutrition, health support, spiritual guidance and opportunities to learn — they gain the building blocks for a lifetime of growth and hope.
Compassion’s church partners walk beside children in poverty during these crucial early years, helping them grow strong and thrive.
What Is Early Childhood Development?
Early childhood development (ECD) means the holistic development of a child from birth to about age 8. More than simply education, it includes all aspects of a child’s early learning and brain development, including physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and motor development.
Why Is Early Childhood Development Important?
Early childhood development shapes who a child will become. From the womb through the first years of school, a child’s brain and body grow faster than at any other stage of life. During these years, children rely on caregivers for everything — love, safety, nutrition, health care and guidance. The way those needs are met builds the foundation for lifelong learning, confidence and well-being.
Without that support, brain development can stall, important milestones can be delayed, and preventable illnesses — even death — can occur. But when children receive nurturing care early in life, they are equipped to grow up healthy, learn well and thrive in every area — physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.
13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020.
47% of all deaths in children under 5 occur in the first 28 days of life.
90% of all maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Source: World Health Organization, 2022-2023 statistics
Through Compassion Survival, our church partners begin walking with children in poverty before they are even born, supporting both moms and babies during those fragile first years. As children grow, Compassion continues to adapt care through every stage of life — helping them develop their God-given potential and build strong, hopeful futures.
What Is Our Approach to Early Childhood Development?
Compassion’s early childhood development initiative, Compassion Survival, supports unborn babies, infants, toddlers and their primary caregivers through four key strategies:
Home-based care
A Survival specialist visits mothers monthly in their homes, offering prenatal and early childhood guidance, biblical mentoring and practical help with essentials like clean water, nutritious food, vitamins, milk, immunizations and diapers.Group-based learning activities
Parents join a supportive community, where they receive basic education, income-generation training and encouragement that breaks the cycle of poverty and isolation.Advocacy for moms
We help mothers access needed medical treatments, ensure they are treated fairly by local services and provide birth attendants during delivery.Survival centers
These safe spaces offer parenting workshops, one-on-one coaching and ongoing support that nurture healthy child development and equip caregivers for the future.
After turning 1, a child can be enrolled in our Child Sponsorship Program, which builds on the foundation laid by Compassion Survival. It continues to support healthy early childhood development while helping little ones reach age-appropriate milestones.
How Does Compassion Survival Help Children and Families in Poverty?
Poverty robs children of essentials many of us take for granted — things like good nutrition, clean water, health care and safety. Without them, healthy development is often out of reach.
When young children are well cared for and free to simply be children, they flourish. They feel less anxious and more hopeful about the future. They can dream, learn and begin developing the skills they will one day need to pursue their dreams.
Early education also helps little ones know they are loved. As their confidence grows, they’re more willing to take the healthy risks that lead to learning and thriving.
