Overview of Early Childhood Health Promotion

Early childhood health promotion aims to keep children healthy with a focus on early interventions and implementing programs for the youngest children. The American Academy of Pediatrics defines early childhood as the time period from birth to age 8, noting that this critical stage is highlighted by some of the most significant growth and development for an individual. The early years of a child's life lay the foundation for future physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Children's health and well-being is influenced by a variety of factors, including family characteristics, community dynamics, and other social determinants of health (SDOH). These include systems, policies, and environmental conditions in which children are born and grow up. For more information and definitions about SDOH and health service gaps that populations face that impact health and well-being, see the Social Determinants of Health Toolkit.

The World Health Organization defines health promotion as:

“The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. It moves beyond a focus on individual behavior towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that programs that focus on influencing and modifying certain health behaviors and outcomes from an early age can greatly impact health outcomes later in life. Some of these programs include a focus on:

Childhood obesity, especially programs in early childhood education settings
Healthy food options and nutrition
Physical activity
Chronic disease in childhood
Oral health
Healthy sleep habits
Access to age appropriate screening tests for development, hearing, and vision
Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prevention

Health Promotion Frameworks

Health promotion and disease prevention models and frameworks can help rural communities implement early childhood health promotion strategies. Health promotion models describe different factors that interact to result in health behaviors which can drive health outcomes. Programs may use several frameworks to help meet the needs of rural communities and address health outcomes. These examples are described in the Rural Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Toolkit, and include:

Resources to Learn More

Lifelong Health
Website
Provides information about the importance of early childhood health and its impact across the lifespan.
Organization(s): Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University