Ensuring "the development of the child ... to the maximum extent possible" is part of every child’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But to what extent is "development" a cultural process that varies between societies, or a natural process that is  the same for all children? This edition of Early Childhood in Focus addresses the major policy questions surrounding the place of culture in early childhood programmes, and how to promote development and learning while respecting cultural diversities. Published in collaboration with the Open University, the ECiF series provides clear reviews of research on key policy and practice issues intended to be of value to policy makers and advocates for the rights of children.