Preface

ECD Resource Centre established at the Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID),Tribhuvan University with the support of the UNICEF Nepal has been undertaking different activities since its inception in 1997.Its major activities include research, publication, conference, networking, training, development of resource materials, dissemination of knowledge and information, and provision of technical support to individuals and organizations working in the field of early childhood.In the recent years it has undertaken two nationally important research studies—Parents'/Guardians' Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Early Childhood Development and Primary Eduaction; and Content and Age Validations of Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) of Nepal.Publication of the Journal of Early Childhood Development has become one of its regular features.

The publication of the journal is the direct outcome of the World Forum Networking project undertaken jointly by Dr. Kishor Shrestha of this Centre and Dr. Wayne Eastman of College of the North Atlantic, Canada.With the publication of the third volume of the journal, Dr. Jacqueline Hayden, Professor of Early Childhood and Social Inclusion of Macquarie University, Australia has joined the team of editors of the journal.

This volume consists of eight articles written by academicians, professionals and experts in the area of ECD. The articles cover a wide range of areas— Fulfilling young children’s rights to build the wealth of nations, An analysis of theories of intelligence underlying human intelligence from Darwin to Gardner, , Working with children in media saturated world, Developmentally appropriate physical activity for young children, Importance of natural playgrounds and their impact on early childhood education and health, Learning through play in Malaysia, Integrated approach to portfolio development and Community based early childhood education programmes in Zambia. We hope the readers will find the articles included in this volume interesting and useful.

I appreciate the collaborative spirit of Dr Kishor Shrestha, Dr Wayne Eastman and Dr Jacqueline Hayden to bring out this volume. On behalf of CERID, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr Shiva Bhusal of UNICEF Nepal for the support received in publishing this journal.I acknowledge the contributions made by all the writers whose articles have appeared in this volume.My special appreciation goes to Mr. Veda Nath Regmi for his support in editing the language.Appreciative thanks are also due to Mr Gautam Manandhar for the layout and cover design and Mr Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha for the printing.

April 2011                                                Prof. Arbinda Lal Bhomi, PhD.

                                                                  Executive Director

            CERID

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Acknowledgements

Education is a fundamental right of children. It is the responsibility of parents and guardians and the government to provide educational services. Along with education, appropriate care is also necessary for young children. Therefore, parents and guardians need to have adequate knowledge on providing education and proper care to their children. In addition to knowledge, their attitude towards providing education and taking care of children needs to be favourable. More importantly, knowledge and attitude have to guide behaviour/practice in real life to ensure that children receive the care and education they require to grow up happy and healthy. With these considerations in mind, various organizations including UNICEF Nepal have been involved in awareness-raising and capacity-building programmes for parents/guardians aimed at the holistic development of children, using key messages on the importance of early childhood development and primary education.

The Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID) of Tribhuvan University, in consultation with an advisory committee comprising representatives of the Department of Education, UNICEF Nepal, Save the Children Alliance, Tribhuvan University’s Faculty of Education, and the Innovative Forum for Community Development, completed a Baseline Survey of the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Parents/Guardians on Early Childhood Development and Primary Education in Nepal for UNICEF Nepal. The survey concentrated on five of UNICEF Nepal education focus districts (Parsa, Dadeldhura, Siraha, Rupandehi, and Bajhang). It is expected that the findings and recommendations of this survey will be useful in fulfilling UNICEF Nepal’s aim of increasing the knowledge of 80 per cent of parents and guardians with children aged 3–5 years and 6–10 years in programme districts on key messages regarding the importance of ECD and primary education by 2010.

The study team would like to thank UNICEF Nepal for giving its members the opportunity to conduct the survey. We are grateful to Ms Lieke van de Wiel, Dr Suman Tuladhar, Mr Purushottam Acharya, and Ms Myriam Blaser of UNICEF Nepal for their vital support during the survey. We would also like to thank the Department of Education and the advisory committee for their valuable suggestions on conducting the survey and bringing the report into this shape. Special thanks must go to the parents and guardians of the survey districts for their valuable ideas and time provided during the survey. Last but not least, we would like to thank the field researchers for their efforts during data collection and analysis.

April 2009 Prof. Arbinda Lal Bhomi, Ph.D. Executive Director CERID, Tribhuvan University

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Preface

Early Childhood Development (ECD) Resource Center was established by Research Center for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID) in 1997 with the support from UNICEF Nepal. Since its inception the resource centre has been generating ECD related resource materials, creating organizational linkages, developing a shared vision, organizing training programs and disseminating information on ECD through organization of dialogue sessions and conferences, publication of newsletters and publication of the journal.The publication of the Journal of Early Childhood Development is Nepal's first and only journal devoted to ECD in Nepal. This is a multi-dimensional journal concerned with child development and early child care and education.

This volume of the journal consists of eight articles written by academics, professionals and experts working in the field of ECD in Nepal and abroad.The articles included cover a wide range of areas.Some of the articles give a brief description of research and research based findings.These include Children's readiness for learning to read in Turkey Music for child's holistic development in Israel Situation of young children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS in Namibia.Other articles open discourse on the experiential learning, relationship between food and the neurodevelopment of young children; Understanding and responding to violence in Children's lives; Policies and plans on ECD in Nepal and Myths and realities of early child care in Nepal. We hope that this journal will bring about better understanding and consequently better practices of ECD in Nepal

The publication of the Journal of Early childhood Development is the direct outcome of the World Forum Networking project between Dr. Kishor Shrestha of this centre and Dr. Wayne Eastman of College of the North Atlantic, Canada.Dr. Eastman paid a visit to CERID under the World Forum Networking Fund in 2002.His visit was highly beneficial for continuation of the publication of the journal and development of ECD resource centre at CERID.

On behalf of CERID, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. P. O. Bloomquist and Mr. Purushottam Acharya of UNICEF Nepal for the assistance received in publishing this journal as well as for the development of the ECD resource centre as a whole. I would like to acknowledge the contributions made by all the writers whose articles appear in this volume.My special appreciation goes to Mr. Gaja Sundar Pradhan for his support in editing the language aspect.Appreciative thanks are also due to Mr. Gautam Manandhar for the layout and cover design, Mr. Chandra Mani Bhandari and Mr. Bishnu Bikram Giri for computer typing and Mr. Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha for printing.

November,2004

Professor Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya

Executive Director

CERID

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