1. The Early Childhood Development Kit A Treasure Box of Activities
An Overview
ECD-in-Emergencies Training,
New York, 2-5 August 2011
ECD-in-Emergencies Training,
New York, 2-5 August 2011

2. Outline ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges
Why an ECD kit? How did the ECD kit initiative start?
The ECD Kit Basics
What is in the ECD kit? Exploring what is ‘inside the box’
Where is the ECD kit being used?
Views from the field
Conclusions/Recommendations
The cost of each kit is $350.00

3. ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges
Today’s global crises have displaced an estimated 50 million people, of whom over 40% are children (highest IDP’s in Sudan 5 million) In 2010 UNICEF responded to at least 290 humanitarian situations in 98 countries
The cost of each kit is $350.00

4. ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges
Worldwide, experts predict at least 200 million children under 5 will fail to reach their full potential in cognitive and socio-emotional development because of malnutrition, iodine and iron deficiencies and inadequate stimulation during the first five years of their lives
The cost of each kit is $350.00

5. ECD in emergencies: Existing challenges
Emergencies pose a set of challenges for young children living in difficult situations.
They are at increased risk of
Loss of parents/separation from primary caregivers,
Sexual and gender-biased violence,
Physical harm,
Long-term negative emotional and psychological effects
The cost of each kit is $350.00

6. Why an ECD kit?
It was created to strengthen the holistic response for young children ages 0-6 caught in conflict or emergency situations. The kit is complementary to main sector programme interventions (hygiene and sanitation, health and nutrition, protection and education)
The cost of each kit is $350.00

7. Specific Objectives
Establish positive and supportive adult-child interactions
Create a safe and secure play and learning environment
Foster self-esteem and confidence
Develop critical and early learning and development skills
Promote interaction between young children of the same or different ages
The cost of each kit is $350.00

8. The use of learning tools in the ECD Kits helps children to develop
Increased hand eye coordination and the ability to handle tools and materials effectively;
Use of symbols, pictures, familiar letters and words to communicate meaning;
An understanding of different attributes of objects such as colour, size, weight, texture;
The skill to be able to match, sequence and classify objects;
Understanding of pattern seeking and pattern making, using different attributes of objects; and
Basic understanding of quantity, counting, and of simple number operations.

9. How did the ECD kit initiative start?
In 2004, IECD Unit conducted a needs assessment survey in over 30 countries facing an emergency:
Most of the countries (83%) expressed the need for a ECD Kit to help establish play and learning activities for young children and their caregivers;
Kits could be used in Child Friendly Spaces (CFS), child care centres, baby clinics in IDP/refugee camps;
Caregivers, preschool teachers, NGO workers would need to be trained to safely and effectively implement the ECD Kit
The cost of each kit is $350.00

10. The ECD Kit Pilot

11. How did the ECD kit initiative start?
Based on survey results, ECD Kit was developed in collaboration with Education, Child Protection, WASH and Supply Division;
Piloted in 2006 in seven countries (Chad, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville, Jamaica, Guyana, Maldives, and Iraq);
Outcomes and recommendations from the pilot informed adjustments to the materials included in the Kit
Additional inputs from ECD and emergency specialists demonstrated that training and guidelines are essential for safe and effective implementation of the Kit
ECD Kit was finalized and launched in July 2009 in Geneva
The cost of each kit is $350.00

12. The ECD Kit: Basic Facts
Targets 0-6 year olds
Can accommodate up to 50 young children
Contains 36 different materials ( activities with materials and activities without materials) for learning and play including:
puzzles and games; counting circle and boxes to stack and sort; board books and puppets; art supplies; soap and collapsable water cans for promoting hygiene.
Includes easy to use Activity Guide on how to use each item based on children’s age and interest
The cost of each kit is $350.00

13. The ECD Kit: Basic Facts
The Activity Guides are now available on-line in 5 languages (E/F/S/P/R) at
The kits are available to order through UNICEF Supply Division
Costs US $350 plus shipping and weighs 34 kgs
The cost of each kit is $350.00

14. ECD Kits: An investment to manage
Each kit costs USD 350
Each kit caters for children
Scenario: 22,000 kits, cost = 7, 700, USD
Total no. children = 1,100,000.00
It is critical to ensure coordinators/facilitators are adequately trained so that such significant investment achieves its objectives.

16. ECD Kit Supportive Materials
Activity Guide: Easy to use activity cards based on materials in the kit as well as activities without materials; Targeting different age groups (babies, 1-3, 4-6); Primary user: caregivers; Available in 5 languages; Produced in Copenhagen and inserted in the ECD Kit
Coordinator’s Guide: Designed to support overall coordination of ECD kit programme implementation at country level; Covers range of topics: situation analysis and programme design, planning and implementation, operations and management, monitoring and evaluation; Available on-line

17. ECD Kit Supportive Materials
Facilitator’s Guide: Designed for trainers working with early childhood care providers to use the ECD Kit; Activity based and participatory; Covers range of topics: child development, dealing with stress, making toys using local materials; Available on-line

18. ECD Kits deployment: A Global View

19. ECD Kit supplies- Distribution per region
The cost of each kit is $350.00

20. Voices from the field
“I love to come to school and play with the toys given to us from the ECD Kit. I have learnt the names of colours, shapes and learnt to put things in the form of a chain. At home I make the same shapes using mud, and my mother feels happy. We enjoy it. We love our teacher also.”
– Khalida Habib ECE student at GPS Qadirabad, Rajanpur, Pakistan

21. Group Work Small Group Activity – Exploring the Materials
Small Group Activity – Understanding the Activity Sheets
Small Group Work – Designing Activities
The ECD Kit is useful, it is a good way to provide for our children’s development during emergency and beyond.
During the situations of crisis, instability and violence, young children are the most vulnerable and they need attention.
Being able to respond to the special needs of younger children together with their caregivers lead to a faster recovery and rehabilitation.
Helping young children in organized learning/ECD centres also helped mothers/caregivers to overcome their own depression and distress