Good nutrition, nurturing, mental stimulation and interactions for infants are the best preventive measure for avoiding developmental delays and disturbances. Development and learning occur as children interact with people and things in the environment. Therefore, we can foster learning and development by making the environment more supportive. That involves creating a healthy environment, and providing space and things and opportunities to help children to learn through play, whether at home or elsewhere. It involves enabling parents and other caregivers to encourage, nurture, stimulate, talk to and play with their children.
Children learn and develop better if they are actively involved.
Children learn in part through constructing their own knowledge. Therefore, we can help children develop and learn through exploration and imitation, whether that is at home in everyday chores or in more organized settings outside the home. Physical, mental, social and emotional development and learning are inter-related. Progress in one area affects progress in the others. A holistic and integral approach needs to be taken.