Integrated early childhood development (ECD) programs boost child health and developmental outcomes. However, the factors contributing to the successful implementation of such programs in informal urban settlements are not well researched. We conducted 14 focus group discussions and 13 key informant interviews with 125 caregivers of children under…

Pastoral care in education aims to promote the holistic development of all pupils whilst supporting those who experience challenging personal circumstances. Significant developments have been made in this field in recent years, including increased focus in Initial Teacher Education, yet major challenges remain to be addressed nationally and…

This pilot study integrated quantitative and qualitative data to examine the feasibility of implementing a modified version of a multiple family group behavioral parent training intervention (The 4Rs and 2Ss for Strengthening Families Program [4Rs and 2Ss]) in child welfare (CW) placement prevention services from the perspectives of participating…

Given the overlap between mindfulness and food neophobia, the current study developed and tested a mindfulness-based intervention to decrease food neophobia in preschoolers. Preschoolers (ages 3-5) participated in 10 sessions of a mindfulness intervention group (n = 27) or a food-exposure control group (n = 25). Children were assessed pre- and…

The EdResearch for Action "Overview Series" summarizes the research on key topics to provide K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students. This overview brief discusses the causes and effects of chronic absenteeism and three tiers of evidence-based practices to…

This study explored the role of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in school-based practice addressing mental health (MH) needs of all students. A sequential explanatory mixed method design which included two stages. Stage One: 61 OTPs in Southern California completed an online survey. Stage Two: 15 OTPs engaged in either an interview or a…

The aim of this meta-ethnographic study was to analyze parents' and teachers' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to physical activity in children. Facilitators were the benefits of physical activity, modeling, participation, children's preferences, and factors supporting active transport. Barriers were quantifying the physical activity,…

Background: Obesity and physical inactivity are serious public health concerns in the United States (US) and globally. COVID-19 restrictions are resulting in decreased physical activity (PA) levels among children. Purpose: To determine barriers and challenges to PA promotion among children during COVID-19 and inform a PA promotion video. Methods:…

By the time a child graduates from high school, they will have spent an estimated 15,600 hours at school. Because a significant amount of children's daily water intake comes from school water fountains, ensuring their access to safe drinking water at school is essential for their overall health. And one key health challenge that schools across the…

Background: Although school nutrition policies (SNPs) have been highlighted as an important intervention to support childhood nutrition, their implementation and maintenance within real-word settings is complex. There is a need to understand the factors that influence implementation by consolidating existing research and identifying commonalities…

Health care reaches more children under age three in the United States than any other family-facing system and represents the most common entry point for developmental assessment of and services for children. In this article, Adam Schickedanz and Neal Halfon examine how well the child health care system promotes healthy child development early in…

Given that preparing preservice classroom teachers (PCTs) for movement integration (MI) has gained traction in recent years as a focus of policy and research related to children's school-based physical activity (PA) promotion, the purpose of this study was to examine PCTs' field experiences of learning to integrate movement in elementary…

Early childhood, defined as infancy through age 5 years, is a critical period and serves as the foundation for development throughout the life span. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July 2015, there were almost 20 million children ages birth to 5 years. The physical health of infants and young children is addressed and monitored through…

In this article, we briefly describe the current epidemiology of HIV/AIDS among South African schoolchildren, as well as the neurocognitive, academic and psychosocial difficulties they experience. Cultural factors linked to HIV prevention and treatment are identified, and government and schools' response to HIV/AIDS is outlined. We then evaluate…

Background: From 5 to 7.5 million schoolchildren are chronically absent, defined as missing =15 days of school within a year. Students miss schools due to various reasons such as health, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors. We examined child's health and behavior, family structure, and sociodemographics to understand chronic…