The course, Early Stimulation, Health and Wellbeing, delves into the critical first three years of a child’s life, with an emphasis on early stimulation, nurturing care, nutrition, health, and overall wellbeing in shaping foundational development. Young children’s growth and development in natural environments will be described in the light of child-rearing practices, parenting styles, and cultural contexts. 

The emphasis will be on the natural processes and the role of the environment in fostering early development. The importance of early nutrition, immunisation, and maternal wellbeing as well as the effects of malnutrition, teratogens, and deficiencies on development will be discussed. 

Early stimulation and nurturing care will be explored both in familial settings as well as professional care and intervention settings. In addition, early attachment in non-family environments like orphanages will be explored. The importance of integrating play and developmentally appropriate practices until three years of age will form an essential element of this course. The role of responsive caregiving, play, and family environments in fostering holistic development will form the basis for discussions on early intervention. 

The course will also focus on identifying atypicalities in development through the use of screening tools, referral processes, and the role of health and rehabilitation personnel in early identification, stimulation and clinical intervention. 

Thus, this course will equip students to understand the profound impact of the earliest years on lifelong development and will prepare them to create supportive, enriching environments for young children, while also training their caregivers to do so.