Early Years Matter: Why Every Moment Counts in Your Child’s Growth

Abu Dhabi families came together last week to celebrate the power of childhood during Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week 2025.

The Early Childhood Authority Abu Dhabi launched a city-wide awareness campaign to highlight why the early years—from pregnancy to age eight—are the most important in a child’s development.

Bringing Families Together

As part of the campaign, the Authority opened Majlisna at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in partnership with PureHealth, Emirates Foundation, and the National Academy for Childhood Development (NACD). The space was designed to encourage outdoor play, reduce screen time, and strengthen family and community bonds—showing how everyday moments of play, reading, and conversation can shape a child’s growth.

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Here’s what parents learned about children’s development

1: Imitation is children’s first step in learning

Children mimic actions earlier than you might think. Simple interactions, like copying gestures or words, are an essential part of how children explore and understand the world.

2: The first 1,000 days are critical for brain growth

From pregnancy to age two, children need the right fuel—both in terms of nutrition and experiences—to support optimal brain development. Early care lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

3: By age six, most children have a vocabulary of around 10,000 words

Children understand and absorb language earlier than we often realise. Talking, reading, and narrating daily experiences can significantly expand their vocabulary and comprehension.

4: Interacting with your young child for 30 minutes a day can boost academic outcomes

Daily engagement, whether through play, reading, or conversation, strengthens social, emotional, and cognitive development, helping children become confident and curious learners.

Why Early Childhood Matters

The campaign reminded parents and caregivers that the earliest years in a child’s life are the most impactful. Simple, daily routines—whether it’s reading a bedtime story, playing outdoors, or talking about the day—can make a lasting difference. During the week, families discovered how small moments of connection help shape a child’s brain, social skills, and future learning abilities.

Key takeaways from the campaign included:

• A child’s most important development happens from pregnancy to age eight.
• Everyday moments—play, reading, talking, and exploring—are powerful learning experiences.
• A safe, supportive, family-centred environment strengthens emotional security and confidence.
• Early interactions help shape brain development, social skills, and future learning abilities.
• Parents and caregivers play the biggest role in nurturing a child’s growth, long before school begins.
• Simple daily routines create strong foundations for health, wellbeing, and lifelong potential.
• Investing time and attention in early years has the greatest long-term impact on a child’s future

The campaign made it clear: every small moment counts. By spending time playing, reading, talking, and exploring together, parents and caregivers are helping their children grow into confident, curious, and capable individuals.