Early Years News Roundup | 13 March 2025

Plus, study shows increased challenges in early childhood after COVID.

Author

Sophie Bruxner-Randall
March 13, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Welcome to The Early Years News Roundup, brought to you by Babyzone, an essential newsletter for everyone working in early years. Each week, we deliver the latest news from around the world because we believe in the power of shared learning and collaboration.

Spotlight 🌟

Babyzone is thrilled to announce that it has officially taken over Baby Buddy, the trusted app that provides expert-led, evidence-based support for parents and caregivers throughout pregnancy and early childhood. This acquisition marks a significant step in Babyzone’s mission to create a truly comprehensive support system for families across the UK.

Bridging Online and Offline Support

  • Free, research-driven content through the Baby Buddy app

  • Evidence-informed classes hosted by Babyzone

  • Safe, welcoming spaces for face-to-face support in local communities

"We are absolutely delighted that Baby Buddy has a new home within Babyzone. This transition creates a powerful combination of digital and in-person support, ensuring families receive holistic guidance at every stage of early childhood development."

Charles Mindenhall, Chair of Babyzone

What This Means for Parents

  • 👶 Seamless access to expert-led, personalised advice through Baby Buddy

  • 🤝 Stronger community ties through Babyzone’s network of local classes and events

  • 🚀 Expanded resources to empower parents and caregivers at every step of their journey

This move strengthens Babyzone’s commitment to supporting families with compassionate, practical, and innovative guidance—both online and in person.

In Conversation 🗣️

🌸 Celebrating International Women’s Day with Babyzone 🌸

When we invest in women, we invest in the future. 💜 Strong, supported mothers raise resilient, confident children, shaping a world where equality, kindness, and opportunity become the foundation for generations to come.

From pregnancy to preschool, Babyzone is here to support women and girls in their journey of motherhood and personal wellbeing. By offering trusted advice, mental health support and community connections in a safe space, we empower women to thrive as caregivers and role models. By providing high-quality early learning education, we help to empower the next generation of girls.

Research & Insights 🔬

Early-life responsive parenting shows promise in tackling childhood obesity according to research from Penn State College of Medicine. The interdisciplinary INSIGHT study highlights how responsive parenting, which emphasises attuning to a child's emotional and physical needs, can ensure healthier weight outcomes from early years through middle childhood. Compared to a control group that received home hazard prevention education, children in the responsive parenting programme generally exhibited lower average Body Mass Index (BMI). The positive impact, particularly marked among girls, supports the idea that early interventions can set a foundation for a healthier future.

Despite encouraging results, the study notes the diminishing effects of the intervention by age nine, highlighting the challenges posed by our obesogenic environment. Researchers advocate for a life-course approach to sustain early gains, suggesting ongoing efforts to instil healthy behaviours throughout childhood. This study underscores the limitations of relying solely on diet and exercise to combat childhood obesity, advocating for the incorporation of parenting practices that can play a pivotal role in nurturing healthier trajectories. Such interventions could be crucial in creating long-term benefits for children's health.

Post-COVID junior infants exhibit reduced school readiness with noted emotional, behavioural, and developmental challenges affecting independence and communication. Addressing these concerns through targeted support and early interventions is crucial, fostering sustainable transformation in child development. Investing in such initiatives promises substantial societal benefits and long-term growth, enhancing educational outcomes for future generations.

The government's initiative, in collaboration with Colgate-Palmolive, earmarks £2.4 million for a groundbreaking toothbrushing programme addressing children's oral health in North West England. This plan targets sustainable growth by reaching 600,000 children annually over five years, distributing 23 million oral care products. Such transformative efforts promise a healthier society by preventing tooth decay and instilling lifelong hygiene habits.

“The most common reason children aged 5 to 9 are being admitted to hospital is to have treatment for decayed teeth.” This is why at Babyzone we have Oral Health teams regularly visiting all Babyzone sites - where they can interact with 250 families per day at each location.

Lara Mindenhall, Co-Founder of Babyzone

Global Perspectives 🌎

Livingston’s PreK for All initiative is setting a new standard for early childhood education in Michigan, combining free tuition, aligned curriculum, and increased enrolment to ensure school readiness and long-term academic success. Programs like GSRP and Young 5s are equipping children with essential skills while driving broader social and economic benefits.

This initiative highlights the strategic value of investing in early education to close learning gaps and strengthen future workforce development. Expanding access to high-quality early learning creates a foundation for sustained educational and societal growth in Michigan.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein's announcement of a task force for child care and early education in Durham signals a pivotal moment in North Carolina's journey towards impactful child care reform. Co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin, this task force is committed to expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care while fortifying the workforce that sustains it. The intrinsic value of such investments is clear: nurturing environments during formative years lay the groundwork for lifelong educational and social success, catalysing not only individual growth but also economic stability by supporting working parents and reinforcing businesses.

This initiative underscores the vital connection between robust childcare systems and community prosperity, by crafting solutions that secure parental work-life balance and ensure children’s safety. Governor Stein's executive order marks a strategic shift in tackling the childcare crisis, advocating for strategic public-private investments and workforce retention. As reports and recommendations unfold, the task force is set to deliver sustainable strategies that cement North Carolina's reputation, not just as a great place to start a family, but as a model of integrated, long-term societal advancement.

South Africa's push for early childhood education enhances literacy and numeracy, vital for sustainable growth. While policy reforms show promise, funding and execution obstacles must be addressed. Grassroots initiatives by enterprising leaders like Faith and Sindi Nedoboni highlight opportunities for impactful investments, crucial for transformative societal progress in early learning.

Early Years News Roundup with Babyzone is a Contentive publication in the Social Impact division