Effectiveness of Early Childhood Care and Education on Wellbeing of Children Aged 2 to 24 Months

Early childhood care and education play the most important role in future of children. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of early childhood care and education package on the well-being of children aged 2 to 24 months.

The research method was a one-group semi-experimental with pretest and posttest. The statistical population included mothers and children aged 2 to 24 months in Isfahan in the winter of 2021. From the statistical population, 25 mothers and children for each of the two age groups of 2 to 12 months and 13 to 24 months (a total of 50 mothers and children for both groups) were selected through purposive sampling. 8 people withdrew from 13 to 24 months group during the study, so the number of samples in this group was reduced to 17 people. The ASQ-III questionnaire was used to assess children's well-being. Each group of mothers and children underwent early education and care for their children for 12 weeks.

The results revealed that early childhood care and education significantly improved the components of well-being, including communication, large movements, fine movements, problem solving and personal-social domains in both groups of 2 to 12 months and 13 to 24 months. (P< 0.01).

Due to the effect of early care and education on increasing the well-being of children in the first two years of birth, the use of this type of education for young children 2 to 24 months in the family and kindergarten is recommended.