UNICEF experts and a top health official of the West Bengal government stressed the need for healthy psychological development of children at an event on Saturday.
The experts urged parents, doctors, medical students and policymakers to join hands to improve the cognitive capacity of children and help them become healthier.
They were speaking at a symposium called ‘Promoting Early Childhood Development: from Systems to Caregivers’, jointly organised by UNICEF, Indian Academy of Paediatrics and the NGO Udbhaas-Nanritam. The symposium was held to find out more ways to reach the policies of early childhood development to the grassroots level.
"It’s high time to look into the mental and psychological development of a child so that they can face the world with dignity," said West Bengal Health Services director Debasish Bhattacharya.
From his experience of being associated with medical education in the state, Bhattacharya said parents should try to build the personality of children from early childhood and develop their attitudes.
"Building the personality must start from the very childhood. Children should be helped in developing good behaviour and attitudes that are lacking in society these days," he said.
UNICEF health specialist in West Bengal Kaninika Mitra said other than nutrition and healthcare, children also need proper stimulation of the brain during the first three years.
“Children don’t need expensive toys. Easily recognisable things like leaves, stones, flowers, clouds, stars and the moon could be used to stimulate and develop their brain. A child’s intelligence level depends on the stimulation of their emotions,” she explained.
