Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority launches “Their Early Years Divide” campaign

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority launched the “Their First Years Divide” campaign with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of the first years of a child’s life, starting from pregnancy until the age of eight.

The campaign emphasizes that this stage represents a solid foundation for the child’s health, education, and lifelong well-being, calling on families and all segments of society in general to realize the impact of simple daily moments in shaping the future of children and society.

This campaign comes as an educational initiative in preparation for Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week 2025, which will be held from November 17 to 23 under the slogan “Together towards making Abu Dhabi a family-friendly emirate.”

Families can visit the website “www.adecweek.ae” to view the details of the week and the events and activities held throughout the emirate.

The first years of a child’s life represent a unique opportunity for his growth and development. During this time, his brain grows at an amazing speed, forming more than a million new nerve connections every second. These connections form the foundation of mental health, attention, memory, and learning.

By the age of five, about 90% of brain development is complete, and the child is able to recognize at least 10,000 words, which reflects the rapid growth in his vocabulary during this crucial stage in which curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning grow.

Research shows that investing in early childhood achieves returns of up to 13% annually, as every dirham spent at this stage can save up to 22.40 dirhams in future costs. When children grow up and grow in environments where love, care, and safety prevail, they gain emotional resilience and self-confidence, which establishes strong families and prosperous communities.

Early childhood experiences also affect both physical and mental health; Proper nutrition, interactive care that effectively responds to the child’s needs, and safe environments play a crucial role in supporting lifelong physical and mental health, as well as reducing the risk of chronic diseases in the future.

The early years contribute to building basic skills such as focus, adaptability, problem solving, and cooperation, which are essential skills for achieving success in school, building social relationships, and interacting with society in general.

Dr. Hessa Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the Special Projects and Partnerships Sector at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, said that the early years represent the beginning point in every child’s journey, and the stage in which the foundations of a shared future are built, explaining that the awareness and educational campaign aims to inspire parents, caregivers and all members of society to realize that investing in a child’s early years strengthens family ties and relationships, empowers communities, and ensures a brighter future for Abu Dhabi.

The Authority stressed that investing in the first years of a child’s life is not the responsibility of families alone, but rather a shared societal responsibility that requires concerted efforts between governmental and private agencies and civil society, to build a supportive and comprehensive environment for every child.

The Authority called for active participation in the activities and events included in Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week 2025, distributed throughout the emirate, to celebrate children’s abilities and unleash their energies, and to establish the concept that every moment spent with them makes a difference, and every experience given to them builds a brighter future for Abu Dhabi and its future generations.