Critical Period for Health: Early Childhood Development and its Impact on Future Well being

Early Childhood Development: A Critical Period for Health and Well-being

From birth through age eight, early childhood is a crucial phase of child development when the brn develops at an extraordinary rate. In just the first few years of life, more than a million new neural connections are formed each second 1. The experiences and opportunities during this period lay the groundwork for how children grow, learn, form relationships, and prepare for school.

Child development does not occur in isolation; family health, community environment, safety concerns, systems, policies, all interact to impact a child's trajectory and overall well-being.

To support healthy development during early childhood, pediatricians collaborate with a comprehensive well-child care system through 15 recommed visits from birth to age five years.

AAP has launched an updated coding fact sheet titled Early Childhood Social-Emotional Development Billing and Coding. This document on billing and diagnosis codes suitable for use by pediatric providers including those in family medicine, integrated mental health professionals, specialists working with children aged 0-5 years. Developed through collaboration between AAP and the Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems Evidence to Impact Center funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA, this resource is designed to assist Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood TPEC Resource Hubs and over 150 Early Childhood Development community health centers.

Infant Early Childhood Mental Health: Building a Foundation for Lifelong Health

AAP now offers an online education course named Infant Early Childhood Mental Health: Relational Foundations for Lifelong Health, funded by the Perigee Fund. The first one thousand learners can access this course at no cost using code SAVE5, designed for pediatricians, family medicine specialists, their team members, and others involved in children's health care and family well-being.

The primary objective of this course is to equip participants with an understanding and application of infant and early childhood mental health principles med at promoting development, preventing risks, and intervening when necessary. The course comprises five modules:

1. Introduction to Infant Early Childhood Mental Health

2. Attuned Interactions

3. Promoting Preventing Social-Emotional Development Risks

4. Intervening When a Developmental Concern Is Identified

5. Building an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health-Informed Practice

Explore the resources and courses AAP provides by visiting our website. We're dedicated to ensuring children have a strong foundation for future development through collaboration with pediatricians committed to comprehensive care.

AAP is a platform for 67,000 pediatricians focusing on promoting optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being across infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

We invite you to explore our resources further at:

1 Center for Developing Child. n.d.. Early Childhood Development: The First Years Matter. Retrieved from https:www.thecenter.orgwhat-we-dotopicsearly-childhood-development

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