Priority 1 – Supporting children and their families and whānau in the first 2,000 days
What we mean by the first 2,000 days
The first 2,000 days means the time from a child’s conception through to 5 years of age.
- Antenatal – conception to birth
- Infant – birth to 1 year
- Toddler – 1 to 3 years
- Preschooler – 3 to 5 years
Why this is a priority
The first 2,000 days is a critical window in a child’s development. Experiences during this time shape long-term outcomes including health and wellbeing, education, and socio-economic outcomes.
Brain and cognitive development: 90% of a child’s brain development occurs in the first 2,000 days. This is also a critical stage for the healthy development of other key biological systems (e.g. immune system).
Health and wellbeing: Alongside a child’s health, positive maternal, parental and family health affect children’s development and long-term health outcomes.
Educational outcomes: Educational readiness supports improved school attendance and engagement, and academic achievement.
A focus on the first 2,000 days will improve outcomes and set children up to succeed
Appropriate investment and intervention during the first 2,000 days helps set children up for success, delivering wide-ranging and positive impacts across all of the Strategy’s six enduring outcomes. Getting the early years right can also influence life-long trajectories and break negative intergenerational cycles.
Evidence demonstrates the value of early intervention in the first 2,000 days, with strong return on investment over a child’s lifetime.
Not all children and their families have positive experiences in the first 2,000 days
- Only 78% of two-year-olds are fully immunised.
- 75% of children receive a B4 School Check on time.
- Research suggests that around 12–18% of pregnant women experience clinical depression.
- 28% of people are not enrolled with a Lead Maternity Carer in the first trimester of pregnancy.
- 20% of children at age 5 are struggling with oral language skills.
Current government policies and actions supporting the first 2,000 days
- Implementing FamilyBoost to help low-to-middle-income households with the costs of early childhood education (ECE)
- Kahu Taurima – implementing improved and integrated maternity and early years services
- Reviewing model of care for neurodevelopmental disorders including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
- Supporting quality, accessibility and choice in the ECE system
- Implementing a food programme in targeted ECE services
- Ngā Tini Whetū – whānau-centred, early intervention support in first 1,000 days
Where we will focus within the first 2,000 days
To improve outcomes in the first 2,000 days we will take a cross-government approach focused on three key areas:
Supporting positive parenting practices – This is key to enabling healthy growth and development, including cognitive development, socio-emotional learning, and building relationships.
We will support positive parenting practices and strong, nurturing relationships between parents/caregivers and their children, in addition to wider social networks.
Supporting development of cognitive and behavioural skills – These are the building blocks for a range of important skills which enable positive behaviour and healthy decision-making.
We will support children to develop the key cognitive and socio-emotional skills that help them to learn and manage everyday life.
Supporting maternal mental health – Positive mental health and reducing toxic stress during pregnancy and post-birth support healthy child growth and development.
We will support positive mental health during pregnancy and post-birth.
