This section presents six complementary approaches to improving early childhood development that might be considered in designing an ECCD strategy and project. In an ideal world all these approaches would be applied together, because they all address conditions in children's environment while working at different levels. A project might focus on one of these approaches that is not being adequately carried out—or on several—while recognizing and perhaps strengthening the others. For example, a project might apply one of the first two approaches, focusing on the child or on the family, doing so within the context of the community. It might provide complementary institutional support to the government entities or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) responsible for the project. And it might seek changes in the legal, policy, and regulatory framework necessary to allow the strategy to work, while also gathering and disseminating knowledge to strengthen awareness of and demand for ECCD programs.

Attending to children in centers
This direct, center-based approach focusing on children is aimed at enhancing their development and learning by attending to their immediate needs in centers organized outside the home (see box 1.4). These centers serve as alternative environments for both care and development. A center-based approach can involve formal or nonformal preschools, child care centers and crèches, home day care arrangements in which one person cares for several children in her home, cooperative programs and play groups, or programs for pregnant mothers and young children carried out through health centers.

Supporting and educating family caregivers
This approach focuses on educating and enabling parents and other family members in ways that improve their care for and interaction with the child. Family members are part of a child's social and emotional environment and also are responsible for arranging the physical environment that affects a child's development. Family caregivers can be educated through home visiting programs, adult education courses, child-to-child programs, the mass media, a general community development strategy, or nutrition, health, or literacy programs.

Promoting child-centered community development
This approach emphasizes working to change community conditions that may adversely affect child development. It adopts the welfare of children as an entry point to foster community initiative, organization, and participation in a range of related activities aimed at improving the physical environment and the knowledge and practices of community members. The goal is to strengthen the organizational base, allowing common action and empowering the community. These activities benefit children but also the broader community.

Strengthening institutional resources and capacities
The many institutions—governmental and civic—involved in the early childhood field need adequate financial, material, and human resources to do a proper job. This approach focuses on strengthening their resources through such activities as institution building, training, provision of materials, or experimentation with innovative techniques and models.

Strengthening national commitment
National commitment is expressed in the legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks relating to young children and families and in the processes for planning and implementing programs. This commitment can be strengthened through such activities as reforming the national constitution, passing new laws, establishing national committees, and incorporating an early childhood dimension into regular planning processes.

Strengthening demand and awareness
This approach concentrates on producing and distributing knowledge to create broad awareness of and demand for ECCD programs and to promote social participation. It is directed toward influencing the broad cultural ethos that affects child development.