Textbooks typically give much less attention to the physical environment in which children grow up than to their social environment, yet the physical environment is intimately linked to the process of growth and development of skills and identity. Section 1 of this issue of Early Childhood in Focus draws attention to some key global challenges in providing healthy physical environments. Section 2 explores the opportunities and challenges of living in urban environments. Section 3 reviews a range of spaces designed specifically for young children, including innovative ‘democratic spaces’, and ‘child-friendly spaces’ in areas affected by disasters and emergencies.

The language of neuroscience is increasingly being used to support assertions about the effects of early experiences on children’s development. This volume in the Early Childhood in Focus series aims to present an overview of the most significant areas of research, starting in the first section with sufficient basic explanation of the brain and how it functions for the research to be understood by people with little or no previous knowledge of the field. The second section gives an overview of the developmental processes involved as the child’s brain grows and matures in constant interaction with the environment, from conception through to adulthood. The third section focuses on the powerful effects of early environments, both physical and social.

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.

Governments are showing more and more interest in providing services to parents to help them fulfil their parenting roles. But what does "good" parenting mean? How can policies to support parents best be adapted to local culture? What is the most appropriate way to critically evaluate these policies? This edition of Early Childhood in Focus addresses these questions by looking at examples of parenting support programmes from the UK, USA, Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia, and identifies practical questions for policy makers, advocates and practitioners to consider.

Developing a positive identity is fundamental to realising every child?s rights. It is at the heart of early childhood policies and practices as well as being a core topic for social research. This issue of Early Childhood in Focus builds on theory and evidence about what makes for positive identity, how it can be affected by adversities, social exclusion and discrimination, and how young children?s resilience can be promoted. NB: pdf also available in Russian.

Early Childhood in Focus is a toolkit for child rights advocates. By setting out clear messages emerging from academic research, it serves to inform, encourage, and provide leverage for successful rights-based policy advocacy on behalf of young children. This second issue deals with the global challenges of education for all, especially for the youngest children. It looks at the implications of growth in early childhood education and care, including a reappraisal of traditional concepts of school readiness, and a review of strategies required to ensure continuity in children's experiences of successful transitions. NB: pdf also available in Russian.

This is the first in a series of publications produced by the Child and Youth Studies Group at The Open University, United Kingdom, with the support of the Bernard van Leer Foundation. The series provides accessible and clear reviews of the best and most recent available research, information and analysis on key policy issues, offering clear messages on core policy topics and questions. The subject of this issue is attachment relationships between infants and caregivers, what influences them and how they impact on an infant's development. NB: pdf also available in Hungarian and Russian.