THE SILENCE TODAY BEARS THE CRIES OF TOMORROW
Communication with the child during the first three years builds his/her attitude to the world
UNICEF's Campaign for Early Child Development
"Every child matters and should be given a chance!"
UNICEF Bulgaria launched a communication campaign "The silence today bears the cries of tomorrow" for early child development, which covered the period from June to October 2009. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of Bulgarian parents, the public, media and politicians, of the importance of the first 3 years in children's development as well as to stimulate meaningful communication with children in this period.
Early childhood (0-3 years) is the most intensive period in the development of human life, during which basic skills are formed - motor, verbal, cognitive, social, etc. Positive emotional communication and connection with parents and relatives is of utmost importance for children from an early age.
Raising and educating children is a complex, difficult and very responsible task. Close emotional contact with children is an important factor in their overall development. Children need love; they have a strong need to feel unreservedly and unconditionally loved. Saved endearments, disrespect and disregard of the individuality of the child, of his/her need to feel valuable and important to his/her relatives, leads to decreased self- evaluation and is a prerequisite for a multitude of problems in his/her further development.
The improper perception that children are still young and incapable of understanding adults is widely spread. Early childhood is a critical period for mastering many skills and perceptions about the world and the patterns in it. It should not be underestimated with the idea that the child will make up for what was missed in the years to come. The unique opportunity to learn quickly, easily and permanently - an ability that the child has in the early years of his/her development, is lost.
There is a need for rethinking the relationships between parents and children, as well as an increased awareness of society and targeted policies to support families, and the development of integrated services on a national and local levels.
