Early Years

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is an international institution created in 1959 to foster economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The state's recognition of human rights should be inescapable. Society and government share the responsibility of encouraging younger generations to reach their full potential. Children are the present but, above all, the future of a nation. It is they who will go on to become productive, healthy, and socially responsible citizens. Whether that actually happens depends on the decisions we make today." - Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas, President of Uruguay "Child development remains a serious challenge for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Designing more effective policies and programs to promote the welfare of children is a top priority. The Early Years provides an authoritative and up-to-date review of the state of children in the region and the evidence on what works to improve child development. It will become the necessary reference for all those interested in the topic and seeking solid analysis to inform policy debates on child development." - Ariel Fiszbein, Former Chief Economist of the Human Development Network, The World Bank "This book is essential reading for anyone involved with early child development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and shows that IDB is now a major player in the field. The book covers a full range of topics from the theory of child development to governance and investment. It includes IDB's own very useful research and summarizes the state of early childhood development in the region, including the achievements and limitations. Their recommendations for future policy and programs are practical and evidence-based, and hopefully will be acted upon by governments. Clearly, there is still a long way to go to attain the goal of a fair start for all children." - Sally Grantham-McGregor, Professor of International Child Health, University College London, UK

• 1. Raising Children: The Case for Government Intervention2. A Report Card on Early Childhood Development 3. Family First4. Daycare Services: It's All about Quality5. Early Schooling: Teachers Make the Difference6. More Bang for the Buck: Investing in Early Childhood Development7. Drawing up an Institutional Architecture8. The Task at Hand: Anything but Child's Play