First 1,000 days of child crucial for growth

Two three-day workshops on 'Early Childhood Care and Development' (ECCD) and 'Parenting Education' concluded at Eco Social Development Organisation's training centre in the town on Wednesday afternoon.

Institute of Child and Human Development (ICHD) organised the programme under 'Early Brain Development Skill Enhancement Program' of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry.     

The programme aimed at building capacity of government officials and other relevant actors by enhancing their scientific knowledge and raising awareness about early brain development as well as overall development of children for creating a ground for the implementation of the government's Comprehensive Early Childhood Care and Development Policy.  

Thirty participants including officials of district administration, different government departments, teachers of government and non-government schools, colleges and madrasas, representatives from NGOs and journalists took part in the workshop on ECCD.   

The first 1,000 days of a child is very important for his or her physical and mental development, when utmost importance is to be given for nutrition and stimulation intervention, said speakers at the workshop on ECCD.

Twenty-five participants from Thakuragaon municipality, including councillors and officials, participated in the workshop on 'Parenting Education' where a key speaker highlighted the fact that a child starts learning from six-month pregnancy through hearing the mother's words.

There were elaborate discussions on children's development, care, health, nutrition, language and other necessary issues including how parents should behave with children.

Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Md Akhteruzzaman distributed certificates among the participants.