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Early Childhood Development for your child

<h2 class="sectHeading">What is early childhood development?</h2><p>Early childhood development (ECD) refers to all the things your child needs to develop fully. Play and engaged learning contribute to the development of your child’s senses, body control and co-ordination. It also improves self-confidence and social skills.</p><p>Some children – like those with <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Family-care-and-support/Family-with-disabilities/Health-and-care-for-a-loved-one-with-a-disability">disabilities</a>, <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Family-care-and-support/Family-drug-and-alcohol-problems/The-dangers-of-alcohol">foetal alcohol spectrum disorders</a> and <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Personal-health/Sexual-health/Hiv-and-aids">HIV/AIDS</a> as well as children who live in poverty – are particularly at risk of not developing to their full potential. For your child to grow into a positive, healthy and happy adult, we need to ensure they have everything they need when they are in their earliest years.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">ECD centres </h2><p>An <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Community-building-and-upliftment/Start-a-social-enterprise/Ecd-centres">ECD centre</a> is any building or property used to care for children. These include playgroups, crèches, aftercare centres, educare centres, pre-schools and nursery schools.</p><p>An ECD centre should offer more than just a place for your child to eat, sleep and play. ECD centres play an important role in unlocking a child’s learning potential. Unfortunately there is a general lack of formal ECD centres across the City of Cape Town despite huge demand for them.</p><p>The City works with the <a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/" target="_blank">Western Cape Government<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> to ensure that all young children have access to sustainable, registered ECD centres and services.</p><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/ECD%20centres">See our database of City-run or supported ECD centres</a><br><a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/directories/facilities/669" target="_blank">See all registered ECD centres<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> </p><p> <strong>Children with disabilities</strong><br>The needs of children with disabilities are included in our services. We’ve provided training sessions for parents of disabled children and we are looking into incorporating it into our overall basket of services.</p><p>The training focuses on children’s rights and the needs of children with disabilities – such as health, housing, schooling and specialist support.</p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy blue bg-navy"><div class="graphic no-border"> <i class="info caring"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Did you know?</h4><p> <b>A caring city:</b> Currently, the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Community%2c%20Arts%20and%20Culture%20Development" target="_blank">Community, Arts and Culture Development Department </a>supports more than 30 fully operational ECD facilities. Read more about the City's early childhood development initiatives in our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/CCT_ECD_guide.pdf" target="_blank">Investing in Early Childhood Development Booklet</a>. </p></div></div>

Learn about healthy early childhood development and the importance of registered ECD centres in Cape Town.

Early Childhood Development Centres Policy	148353	GP0\|#ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd;L0\|#0ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd\|Policy;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2003-07-31T22:00:00Z
Early Childhood Development Strategy	314715	GP0\|#bb3e3c24-a53e-46bf-bfce-cc8d4ebdaa59;L0\|#0bb3e3c24-a53e-46bf-bfce-cc8d4ebdaa59\|Strategy;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#4a698fa1-48a1-4def-afa7-749a0e063169;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2006-12-31T22:00:00Z
Investing in Early Childhood Development Booklet	2260697	GP0\|#5702b03d-251a-4a3f-8243-b5b3f7bb764a;L0\|#05702b03d-251a-4a3f-8243-b5b3f7bb764a\|Booklet;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2014-12-31T23:00:00Z