There is now a widespread consensus that high-quality early childhood education is critically important for children. Research continues to find that early childhood education can compensate for a lack of learning opportunities at home, and can help children begin to develop the social and emotional skills needed for success later in life.

Local governments are the main contributors to the financing of early childhood education, particularly with regards to core goods and services such as staff salaries and school buildings. Households and other private entities bear a greater share of the cost than in other levels of education, particularly for ancillary services such as meals, school health services and transport.

With many of us still continuing to remain at home and while some won't be able to see their moms in person, here are some of the best Hollywood films to watch on Mother's Day celebrating the motherhood.

New global trend such as jobless growth, a rising youth population and resource scarcity threaten to undo much of the progress of recent decades in securing people’s ability to make a living, according to a new report by the OECD Development Centre launched in Paris today at the OECD Global Forum on Development.

Casual familiarity triggers a sense of belonging and happiness in most of us and this in turn makes us more resilient

Out in the western suburbs, follow in the footsteps of rock ’n’ roll greats and a royal mistress along the river Thames

The annual list of awards for celebrities and community heroes - due to be released in June - has fallen victim to Whitehall 'bandwidth' issues as officials are swamped by virus battle.

Andy Murray's sensational year comes to a fitting conclusion today with a knighthood in the New Year's honours list – but he insists he doesn't want to be called 'Sir Andy'.

The annual list of awards for celebrities and community heroes - due to be released in June - has fallen victim to Whitehall 'bandwidth' issues as officials are swamped by virus battle.

She recently told The Wall Street Journal of her own mullet: 'But I made a record that's kind of rock influenced, hence my mullet. This was not just a random Wednesday Tiger King haircut.'

Nomadic communities make up about 7 percent of India's population, but policy makers have largely ignored them, says Bahar Dutt.

The India Committee of the Netherlands reports on agri-business corporations' wage and labour practices in India, and calls on the EU to improve its standards and monitoring.
Interact: Are Indians more to blame than MNCs?
October 2003 update: MNCs agree to end child labour

It is indeed ironic that in a society where motherhood is virtually deified, we pay so little attention to making sure that women don't die in the process of becoming mothers, writes Kalpana Sharma.

Maternity leave is generally not available to adoptive mothers in India, even though an adoptive mother needs it just as much as a biological mother. The central government recently passed an order reversing this situation in part, thanks to Atmaja, an association of adoptive parents in Kolkata. Ranjita Biswas reports.

On Mother's Day 2020, let's look at some examples of motherhood in Bollywood that were non-traditional and non-biological.

Rakshit Shetty who was busy shooting for 777 Charlie is currently homebound like the rest of us due to the COVID-19 lockdown. However, the Kirik Party and Avane Srimannarayana star, in a recent interview with the Metrolife revealed his childhood memories

Representatives of beauty and wellness segment have urged Union Minister (MSME and Transport) Nitin Gadkari to allow opening of salons, spas, barbersh

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) hatched its first hooded crane chick June 14. The chick was born as the result of artificial insemination. The […]

The post First hooded crane hatches @ SCBI appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

An overview of the Smithsonian Affiliations program and its reach in communities across the United States. Is the Smithsonian in your neighborhood?

The post Smithsonian Affiliates in your neighborhood appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The evidence does not support a causal link between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and either the diphtheria, tetanus, and whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine or exposure to multiple childhood vaccines, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

A review of the available evidence underscores the safety of the federal childhood immunization schedule, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

High-quality early care and education (ECE) is critical to positive child development and has the potential to generate economic returns, but the current financing structure of ECE leaves many children without access to high-quality services and does little to strengthen the ECE workforce, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

A new German study suggests that residents??? level of satisfaction with their urban neighbourhood can be predicted from their perceptions of multiple and co-occurring burdens, such as poor air quality, lack of green space, noise and low cleanliness.

New Dutch research has investigated the composition and strategies of local activist groups who oppose changes to land use. The results indicated that activists tend to have a higher level of education and live in densely populated areas. They most frequently use awareness-raising strategies, especially when fighting new housing projects.

For older adults, having more or closer family members in one's social network decreases his or her likelihood of death, but having a larger or closer group of friends does not, finds a new study that will be presented at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).

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People who live in the most ‘activity-friendly’ neighbourhoods do up to 1.5 hours more physical activity a week than those in the least supportive neighbourhoods. This is according to a new international study which measured levels of exercise — mainly walking for recreation or transport — in relation to the urban environment across 14 diverse cities. The results show how urban design — such as parks and local amenities — can promote healthy lifestyles which also bring environmental benefits, such as better air quality, through reduced car use.

A method for assessing urban neighbourhoods’ resilience to flooding has been presented in a recent study. The method identifies features of urban landscapes that contribute to three elements of flood resilience: resistance, absorption and recovery. In a German case study, the tool shows that the features which make a waterfront neighbourhood of Hamburg more flood resilient include high bridges, open public spaces and flood-protected basements.

New research has found a possible link between traffic-related air pollution outside people's homes and the onset of asthma in children during the first eight years of life. Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5 and soot were more likely to be recorded at the homes of those children who developed asthma and asthma symptoms.

Living near busy roads is associated with an increased risk of childhood leukaemia, according to French researchers. The study found that children living within 500 metres of major roads were more likely to develop leukaemia than those who lived far from such roads. It is possible that high levels of traffic pollution from the roads are responsible for the higher rates of the illness.

Traffic pollution contributes to childhood obesity, a recent study concludes. In the US investigation of over 4 500 children, the researchers estimated that air pollution increased the body mass index (BMI) of 10-year olds in the most polluted areas of study by 0.4 units, compared to those in the least polluted areas. It is thought that pollution may have slowed the children’s metabolism.

“Inconvenient Truth” producer Laurie David teams up with Katie Couric to make a film that has the Grocery Manufacturers Association defending its efforts.

When the upscale grocery moves into poorer areas, the potential benefits are huge.

Living near high-traffic roads accounts for 14% of all asthma cases, researchers find.

Some films from way back when may not be as OK as you remember. Here are a few that are just good, clean fun.

From today's declining fertility rates to the increasing money people spend on moms, here's a look at motherhood by the numbers.

Photographer Elena Shumilova creates timeless images of childhood that touch people all around the world.

Chilly today? Crank down the thermostat and break out that hoodie — a versatile staple that can help you save a few bucks on wintertime heating bills.

Social drama unfolds on the social networking site Nextdoor.

The Big Apple's complaining culture gets its own mapping website that spotlights the top complaints reported within 42 different neighborhoods on a daily basis.

Escaped camel, cow and donkey in Kansas are 'halfway towards a live nativity.'

In a once iffy stretch of East Oakland, Tassafaronga Village stands as a model of affordable green housing done right.

Countersurveillance clothing is emerging as a niche market in the fashion industry.

The North Face releases a limited edition hooded sweatshirt (mostly) designed and manufactured within the Bay Area.

‘Moments of Joy’ highlights Aflac’s near-25-year commitment to raising awareness for childhood cancer while addressing the challenges kids face.

Many dieters currently using the Weight Watchers weight loss program have added Hoodia weight loss supplements to their current diet.

Are you tired of failing to lose enough unwanted pounds? Learn the true facts of Hoodia Gordonii so you can take full advantage of this new alternative for achieving your weight loss goals.

Is your Hoodia brand legally sourced in South Africa? Find out how you can tell and why it is important.

Dr. Nicole is a multi-award winning best-selling author, based in Quebec. She writes children's books that educate, inspire and teach valuable life lessons.